B2400 STARTER PROBLEM

frank_f15 · Jul 12, 2004

my b2400 , every once in awhile , when i turn the key i just get a click, keep dooing it and it will finally engage, once it is warm seem to be ok and sometimes it won't do it for days. i cleaned all the terminals. but still happens. bad stater? or what? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Boone · Jul 13, 2004

Do you have a good ground wire connection?

Pks · Jul 13, 2004

As I remember: a clicking starter is an indication of low current flow. The click is the motion of the solenoid moving the starter drive gear into contact with the flywheel. What's not happening is the spinning of the starter motor, which takes a lot of current.

Check the terminals for corrosion then clean the battery with a baking powder and water paste. If the problem continues, the battery could be getting old or the starter could be in need of an overhaul.

Sarge · Jul 13, 2004

I have a B1700 and had the same problem. You need to replace both + and - cables (as well as clean up around connections). The wires are old and not carrying the current.. Don't buy a battery yet.

Good Luck

ByronBob · Jul 13, 2004

Had that problem myself. Bought a new battery and it's all gone. How old is the battery? You cleaned all the contacts and it comes and goes. You could the next time it happens jump the battery with jumpers to a battery you know is fresh. The battery only last 2-3 years anyway then it's a crapshoot

frank_f15 · Jul 13, 2004

now that i think of it the only connection i did not clean was the ground to the frame(will do that tomorrow) and the battery i think is the original, it is a 98 tractor which i bought used in the winter of 2001, so the battery is probably 6 years old.

ByronBob · Jul 14, 2004

Frank I'm betting the house on the battery now. Get one anyway as thats not dependable anymore. The life expectancy is 3 tops in our weather. Way too cold here for anymore than that

frank_f15 · Jul 14, 2004

WELL ALL THE TERMINALS ARE CLEANED, battery post, ground to frame and the starter . still does the same . will put new basttery in (as this one is 6 years old anyhow) and if that don't fix it then i guess it is the starter going bad.

EastTexFrank · Jul 14, 2004

Let us know what happens as my B2400 is doing the same thing. I've done everything that you've done ... cleaned terminals and connectors, checked the wires, made sure the battery is full and fully charged, etc., etc. When I put it on the charger, the battery checks out "good", although it is 4 years old, and the charging system is OK so I'm coming round to the opinion that it must be the starter going bad.

frank_f15 · Jul 14, 2004

tomorrow ( time permitting) i will run up to the interstate battery dealer, and get a new battery as i was going to get one anyhow before the comming winter. if that don't cure it then on to new starter. any boday have any idea what a starter will cost for the b2400? don't look like much of a job, 3 wires and 2 bolts or am i missing something?

Inspector507 · Jul 14, 2004

TractorSmart has it for $195.23

B2400 · Jul 14, 2004

The battery is a 51R and is available just about anywhere....Wally World in our area for 59.95. I believe even optima makes a 51R but will be cashy!!!

frank_f15 · Jul 14, 2004

thanks for the link, just checked it out. but why would such a little stater cost so much /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

kubmech · Jul 14, 2004

Frank, put a meter on the small lead going to the starter, that's the one that engages the solenoid/starter. Try it connected to the starter then try it disconnected from the starter. Read DC volts with key switch to start position tell me what you get................

ZackaryMac · Jul 14, 2004

Some ATV starters are $500, and you likely know how small they are. Some machines only have electric start, so you HAVE to have one! Sad.... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

SteveV · Jul 15, 2004

Try fiddling with the control levers while engaging the key for the starter. I've tightened the neutral safety switches more than once. SteveV

frank_f15 · Jul 15, 2004

just saw your post( did not do much today as i had 2 teeth pulled /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif . not real good with electrical, but are u talking the samll staycon to the solenoid? and u want me to clip on with metere and hit switch< then disconnect staycon and get a reading off the wire disconnected from the starter?

kubmech · Jul 15, 2004

Frank, heres the bottom line..Power flows from your ignition switch through your PTO, neutral and clutch safety switches.
To the starter solenoid (black/white wire??) When all the switches and battery etc. are new there is very little resistance.
After you get some time and some age in these components resistance builds up and eventually will cause a voltage drop by the time it gets to the starter solenoid. This voltage drop will vary according to temperature, humidity and other factors.
That's why some times it'll work and other times it wont. The starter solenoid needs approx. 9 volts to fully engage. Anything less and it wont fully make contact to send power to run the starter motor. Yes it will click, but needs just a little more "oomph" to fully seat on the contacts and allow the starter motor portion to run. Now instead of replacing all the components in the system to reduce the voltage drop. What you need to do is install a starter relay. Most, if not all modern machines have this feature now because of this very problem. Some companies figured this out a bit sooner than others and came up with a pre-wired relay kit with instructions (John Deere and Scag I know for sure). Now some guys like to do things on there own and run down to NAPA and get a regular low voltage relay or a good old fashion starter solenoid, wire it up themselves and fix this problem, which works just fine. However the good old fashion starter solenoids still need close to 9 volts to engage and still causes some problems. The low voltage relay is the best way to go.. I think it will work with as low as 4 volts. In my experience the easiest way to go, is to install the JD kit part #
AM107421. It's, like I said, prewired and comes with instructions and it's around 15-20 bucks. Basically the way it works is... The red wire goes to the Battery terminal of the starter, the black wire goes to ground. You plug the black/white lead that would normally go to your starter to the male purple connector of the relay and the female connector purple lead to the starter. I have solved this "mysterious" problem many, many times on all brands and models of older machines with this kit. Everyone has given great suggestions for making sure your basic electrical system is sound and in proper working order. Most times when all else checks out and I have verified that voltage to the starter solenoid is a little low or questionable, installing this kit solves the problem at least 99% of the time. I'd be willing to bet it will work in your case as well. On rare occasions I have torn down the starter to find the contacts bad in the solenoid when this kit would not solve the problem. However for the price of the kit it's more than worth a shot in my opinion..................

mistero12 · Jul 22, 2004

I have the same problem with my B2400. Replaced the battery, cleaned all wires/cables, and ran a seperate )very heavy) ground wire directly from the battery to the starter, with no luck. I am now wondering if there is a bad starter or limit switch problem. The limit switches ar used on the clutch, PTO levers, and transmission selector.

Please let us know if you fix the problem as I am out of ideas, and a new starter is extremely expensive!!

Thanks