B2400 starting problem finally solved

[victor43]

Since last summer, when I tried to start the tractor, most times it would take up to 10 or so tries turning the ignition key on and off to finally start. With each try, I could hear the starter solenoid click. I cleaned the battery terminals, battery clamps, and ground connection to the frame. Problem not fixed. I then replaced the starter solenoid and that didn't fix the problem. Since I needed the tractor to start without fail for winter snow blowing, I had the Kubota dealer pick it up for repair. He replaced the starter switch and it started OK all winter. This spring, the problem started again. When I used jumper cables to start it, it would start OK. I assumed the 8 year old battery was bad so I replaced it. Problem not solved. I then temporarily installed new battery cables. Problem still not solved. Finally I read Kubmech 's posting on this problem (7/15/04). He explained that the increased resistance in starting circuit as the parts aged caused a decreased voltage to reach the starter solenoid. When this voltage decreased enough, the solenoid did not have enough current to engage. His solution was to install a low voltage relay which would engage and allow full voltage from the battery to engage the starter solenoid. Use of John Deere part AM107421 was recommended (Approx $18). Since I had tried almost everything else (and didn't want to have to send the tractor back to the dealer) I bought the part and installed it. Tractor had sat for about a week and started on first try. The part has been installed for over a week and the tractor has not failed to start on the first try. Installation is easy, it is almost as if this part was made for installation on a Kubota. Wires from low voltage relay plug right into the Kubota solenoid terminals and wire from ignition switch. (See Kubmech 's posting for detailed installation instructions). If you have this starting problem and cleaning the battery cable clamps, ground, battery terminals and your battery is good, I would suggest trying this part. The most you can be out is about $20. Wish I had read this posting earlier, it would have saved me about $350. Thank you Kubmech

 

[ronjhall]

Here is a link to Kubmech's post.
Click Here
Sure is great to have him post. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> Thank you Kubmech </font>

Kubmech does not post a lot these days, but his posts are top shelf always and if it were up to me he would have superstar status...

I second that thank you to Kubmech, as I am sure do many others here... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Kubmech does not post a lot these days, but his posts are top shelf always )</font>

I agree. There has been threads discussing user titles based on the value or quality of members' posts rather than the number of posts, and I don't know how anyone would ever be able to do a reliable and accurate evaluation in that regard, but there are a few folks about whom there is no doubt, and Kubmech is one of them.

 

[EastTexFrank]

Darn it!!!!!!

I was following this thread because I had been having the same starting problem with my B2400. It was more of an annoyance than anything else but I failed to read Kubmech's solution. Darn it again!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I just dropped the tractor off at the dealer yesterday for it's 800 hour service and the starting problem was one of the other things they were to look at along with a real bad fuel leak. If I'd only been paying attention, it looks as if I could have saved myself a few dollars at least. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Boy, that makes me mad ... at myself. I hate to mess up like that. It may not be too late. Since it's a miserable day here today, I may just drop by the dealer and talk to the mechanic.

Once again, thanks for the info.

 

[kubmech]

Once again, thanks for all the, thanks, guys. I can't take the credit for the fix. John Deere came out with that, close to 10 years ago now. Yanmar/Kubota...Nippon Denso..is, Nippon Denso...put two and two together and all this stuff just works the same. Just can't watch guys tear their hair out, when I know there's an easy fix. I still pay attention and check in quite a bit, but geeze, sometimes it looks like I could spend the rest of the night reading and posting. Which, when I have the time, that's fun. Just don't happen that often anymore. TBN sure has grown up, no suprise though, since the day I found this sight I was hooked. Sometimes, because of this sight, I was able to solve problems at the shop before I actually saw them.
Victor, glad to see your first post was because I could help you out. Just out of curiousity, did the JD dealer have that kit in stock or did they order it for you??

 

[victor43]

Kubmech: I called up the local John Deere dealer, told him the part number, he had it in stock and I picked it up. I don't understand why Kubota doesn't offer a low voltage relay kit to fix this problem. I guess when the dealer replaced the ignition switch, it lowered the resistance so just enough current got to the solenoid to make it work. As the switch aged, the resistance increased causing enough of a voltage drop so the solenoid wouldn't engage. Thanks again for your help.

 

[tomf]

I finally got around to do the John Deere AM107421 relay kit modification to my B2400 after several years. My B2400 would not start the first several key turns. With this mod it starts on the first turn. Amazing!

The mod took about half an hour. Most of that time was spent deciding where to attach the relay. I decide to attach it to a support for one of the fan belt pulleys because it had an easily assessable bolt that also looked like it was grounded to the engine. Actual time doing the actual physical install was probably 5 minutes.

I'm posting 2 pictures with the mod. 1st picture shows the complete mod. 2nd picture shows how the relay is attached to the pulley support.

Thanks to Kubmech for discovering this mod

 

[d1king]

Old post, old tractor. Fix still works. Dealer quoted app $675.00 starter and Ignition switch, etc. Believe I am under $30.00 for part from John Deere, little bit of zip tie, tax, etc. If kubotamech (?) is still around, thank you.
Adding this in case anyone else is having this problem now,

 

[Fasttimes]

I just bought a B2400 that had the starter issue, after a quick search I found this thread. Just ran over to the JD dealer and picked the AM107421 relay- - -she's starting like a champ now.

Thanks All ! ! !

 

[thavil]

I just bought a B2400 that had the starter issue, after a quick search I found this thread. Just ran over to the JD dealer and picked the AM107421 relay- - -she's starting like a champ now.

Thanks All ! ! !

Congrats on finding this great tractor forum and finding the post you needed to fix your tractor yourself. You are the 2nd person recently, to use an older post, to find the Deere relay to fix your Kubota. Welcome to TBN!

 

[Deano]

Welcome and great find!!!

 

[victor43]

Glad to see that this old post is still helpful. Low voltage relay has been on the tractor for 5 years now and it still starts on the first try. Thanks again Kubmech.

 

[jwheelerb]

I have a John Deere 112l mower. I will try to start it and the engine will start to crank and then quit. After I do that one time and turn the key again, I just here one clicking noise and the engine doesn't even try to turn. I thought it was the battery so I got me a new one and it didn't help. I can jump the mower with my truck and then the mower works until I shut it off. Then it does the exact same thing. Do you think that this problem could be that it needs a hard start relay? I have been reading the post on here and it seems like all the others will start after a while. Mine will not start unless I jump it . Any suggesstions if you don't think it does need a hard start relay? thanks

 

[txcactusdude]

Talk about good timing. I have a 97 G1900S that has the same starting problem - Infrequent starting, but the starter solenoid was clicking and the starter spline would extend about 1/2 way.

I picked up the lower voltage relay today at a JD dealer in Waco, TX. Got it installed tonight and it started everytime. Last night I had to turn the ignition maybe 15-20 times before the tractor would start. It was always a crap shoot if it would start again if I ever turned it off.

Thanks to Kubmech for the great tip.

Dennis

 

[misolith]

So I'm trying to troubleshoot a starting problem on a L4310 GST.

I can get the starter motor to turn over if I jump the terminal connection from the battery cable to the terminal where the Black Wire with a white stripe from the ignition switch lands.

It seems that voltage is only 10 or so volts. I'd assume that the starter at least tries to turn over but there's no connection. Is there any other possible SNAFU's? For example the shuttle switch or some other relay control that's gone bad?

Cheers,

MISOLITH

 

[shellman14315]

B8200 starting problem......$32 relay saved me alot of headaches....former owner switched out the ignition switch but to no avail......5 minutes to install and BAM...starts each and every time.......

 

[ktmhans]

I have a b2100 and am having the same problems wish I looked a little harder for a fix before I thought I knew the problem. So far I threw a battery and a new starter at the problem.
I know the jd part # but all the links to the wiring digrams don't work on my end. I pm'd Kubmech but not sure if hes still on here. anybody got any leads on where to tie in the wires?
Thanks from Hans

 

[victor43]

I have a printed copy of Kubmech's response to the starting problem. Per this response the low voltage starting relay is hooked up as follows:

Red wire goes to battery terminal of the starter.

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.

Hope this helps.

 

[ktmhans]

I have a printed copy of Kubmech's response to the starting problem. Per this response the low voltage starting relay is hooked up as follows:

Red wire goes to battery terminal of the starter.

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.

Hope this helps.

It sure does thank you very much.