A Fix for the Click

[MSGretired]

Kubota L4400D have been battling the problem when turning the key to start all you get is a click. In my case I tried all the usual safety connections, etc not the problem. The problem in my case was in the starter solenoid. if you have the denso starter you can remove the cap (3 screws) on the end of the solenoid and you will see that the disc on the magnetic contactor is only touching one of the contacts. I removed the contact assembly and put a non-metallic shim on the stud put it back together and the tractor starts everytime. This was my discovery and fix perhaps it will help someone with this problem.

 

[Roadworthy]

Good to know, thanks for sharing.

 

[JWR]

You said the disc on the magnetic contactor is only touching one of the contacts. Hard to picture how inserting a non-conducting shim results in the correct connection among contacts. Any chance of seeing a picture of what you did or a diagram or longer description ?

 

[MSGretired]

You said the disc on the magnetic contactor is only touching one of the contacts. Hard to picture how inserting a non-conducting shim results in the correct connection among contacts. Any chance of seeing a picture of what you did or a diagram or longer description ?

By placing a shim in this case a cork washer over the stud and on the inside of the solenoid positions the stud contact surface closer to the contact disc allowing it to make the connection when the contractor is energized. I would send a photo but I would have to remove the starter and take it apart again so sorry no photo.

 

[JWR]

OK, let me tackle it in English lacking a picture or diagram -- I think you are saying that the solenoid is made such that a spacer moves a conducting part closer to the contacts that must be electrically connected in order to conduct current to energize the solenoid (or to feed the starter, one of the two.) True?

If roughly correct, this may explain a very wide spread disease with smaller Kubotas like my BX2200 -- where a reduced voltage gets to the solenoid and lacks the oomph to engage the solenoid fully and thus get cranking to occur. Maybe the same problem ? Using the spacer to place the conducting disc closer would presumably reduce the voltage needed to engage the solenoid and thus the starter.

 

[MSGretired]

Let's try this again. (They) say that a picture is worth a thousand words I hopefully can do it in less words. The starter solenoid on my starter (Denso Brand) is like a can with a lid held on by 3 screws. Removing the lid you will see the insides of the solenoid there is a round disc attached to a center post that moves up and down when energized by the ignition switch (in start mode), when energized the post is pulled down causing the disc to contact and connect the battery contact to the starter contact and the starter will turn the engine over. In my case the battery post contact was not contacting that disc and therefore was not energizing the starter. The suspected reason was that the battery post contact had worn away enough that there was no contact with the center disc contactor. I removed the starter post contact and made a cork gasket material washer to fit over the post and then reinserted the battery post contact in place simply moving the contact in slightly (approx 1/8in) so that the center disc contactor would contact the two solenoid contacts when energized. So if you are getting a click when turning your ignition switch to start and you are unable to explain it away as the battery or the ignition switch or one of the safety switches, take a look inside the starter solenoid and see if this might be your problem. It is a fix you can try with very little effort and no expense. All the so called experts told me that it was my starter just replace it, fortunately I decided to investigate further. hope this helps someone.