DK 35 Won't Start

[grapevine]

It's ground prep time of the year and my DK35 won't start (2005 with 550 hours). I was discing last evening for several hours, came back to the barn and shut her off. 5 minutes later I went to start up again and just a click at the solenoid. When I get home from work today, I will clean and tighten the battery connections (looked fine) and hope for the best. I don't want to sound like a pessimist, but it sure does seem like it is the starter motor. Any other ideas I can try?

Thanks

 

[Dmace]

If the battery is good, then a clicking sound is either the starter solenoid or a starter relay. Typically you can buy the solenoid without purchasing a whole new starter but I don't know if that is the case with a tractor starter.

Put a screwdriver across the solenoid contacts and if it starts, that is your problem.

 

[ToadHill]

elI had the same thing happen to me last summer. 2005 DK35 with about 700 Same symptoms, and the battery looked good. All it needed was to take off the cables and clean the battery terminals.

A wire brush to the cable ends and the terminals and she started right off and has been starting fine ever since. The terminals had some kind of glazing on them.

 

[kenstrac]

If the battery is good, then a clicking sound is either the starter solenoid or a starter relay. Typically you can buy the solenoid without purchasing a whole new starter but I don't know if that is the case with a tractor starter.

Put a screwdriver across the solenoid contacts and if it starts, that is your problem.

And don.t forget to make sure its in neutral and the brake is on before you do this!

 

[wallace]

Clean the negative cable going to the frame.

 

[DK35vince]

What Rick said.
Clean where the negative cable bolts to the frame.
My DK 35 did the same thing last summer and it was a bad ground at the frame.

 

[PAB_OH]

CK30 - 345 hours, same problem. Took cables off @ batt. and cleaned. Fired right up. Check both ends of neg. and clean. Clean pos. @ batt.

 

[grapevine]

Thanks guys. It was raining tonight so I didn't get to it. I'll clean terminals and ground connection tomorrow and let you know how it went. This is truly a great site.

 

[grapevine]

Well it was a nice afternoon here, so I took a couple hours off work and commenced cleaning up the battery terminals, etc. Got everything cleaned up, turned the key and - click. I jumped across the solenoid lugs and it fired right up so I guess it is something in the solenoid and not the starter motor itself? Do any of you know if you can replace the solenoid w/o replacing the starter? Anything else it could be besides the solenoid? I did notice that when a jumped across the lugs, sometimes the starter moter would engage the flywheel and sometimes the starter motor just spun.

Thanks

 

[IXLR8]

A wire brush to the cable ends and the terminals and she started right off and has been starting fine ever since. The terminals had some kind of glazing on them.

Typically that 'glazing' is lead oxide, it is black, hard and does not conduct electricity well. Sometimes it is thin enough so that a wire brush will remove it, sometimes it is thicker and harder and it will need to be scraped off with a knife. When done cleaning the contact surfaces should be shiny silver in color.

 

[wallace]

Only other thing I can tell you to look at is.
On the driver side of the tractor near the bottom of the steering column the is a black rubber square that acts as a panel push in on it and it will pop free. Grab it and pull it out once it is out of the way.
You will find the main wire harness down there there will be 2 plugs.
Unplug the plugs and make sure there is not corrosion in there you may even find a pin broke off.

 

[wallace]

One other thing you did say it made a click sound so this may not pertain but it is worth looking at.
Make sure your PTO switch on the dash is in the off position.

 

[Dmace]

I did notice that when a jumped across the lugs, sometimes the starter moter would engage the flywheel and sometimes the starter motor just spun.

Thanks

That is typical when jumping a solenoid with a screwdriver or other metal object. It does not always make a perfect contact so the starter motor does not always get the full 12volt load and it does not fully engage the starter gear. On the other hand, it is possible that the starter is on it's way out and the gear gets stuck disengaged and does not spin fast enough to engage the flywheel. You may get away with just a replacement starter solenoid for a while but since it is missing, I would just replace the starter.

 

[grapevine]

Just an update on the DK 35. After cleaning the terminals (and replacing them by the way) and making sure all connections were tight and clean, it still would not start. The loud click is clearly the plunger ramming back, engaging the fly wheel gear and supposedly making the connection to turn the starter motor - the starter motor would not turn over. It started every time by jumping the lugs. I was just about to pull the starter when --- it started normally. I used it 2 or 3 times for different jobs and it stopped starting again. Cleaned all the terminals and connections again and this time it will not start other than by jumping the solenoid lugs. Bottom line - it has to be the solenoid. Then I find out the bad news - Dealer #1 says Kioti does not sell just the solenoid - I have to buy the whole starter to the tune of 286.00 Then, as I am writing this note, Dealer #2 calls me and says North Carolina has solenoids in stock and one is being shipped for 63.22 plus shipping. Stay tuned, I have a sneaky suspicion this ain't over yet

 

[Dmace]

Hopefully you will get away with just replacing the solenoid. For reference, you should post the part number(s) when you get them so others that search for this problem will find this thread and the solution with part numbers.

 

[wallace]

Just an update on the DK 35. After cleaning the terminals (and replacing them by the way) and making sure all connections were tight and clean, it still would not start. The loud click is clearly the plunger ramming back, engaging the fly wheel gear and supposedly making the connection to turn the starter motor - the starter motor would not turn over. It started every time by jumping the lugs. I was just about to pull the starter when --- it started normally. I used it 2 or 3 times for different jobs and it stopped starting again. Cleaned all the terminals and connections again and this time it will not start other than by jumping the solenoid lugs. Bottom line - it has to be the solenoid. Then I find out the bad news - Dealer #1 says Kioti does not sell just the solenoid - I have to buy the whole starter to the tune of 286.00 Then, as I am writing this note, Dealer #2 calls me and says North Carolina has solenoids in stock and one is being shipped for 63.22 plus shipping. Stay tuned, I have a sneaky suspicion this ain't over yet

I would like to chime in here for a second.
I am quite sure I am dealer #1 here and after reading this post I had smoke coming out of my ears on this....I went to my parts guy and went up and down him as to what was said and where we got our info from!
He showed me what he did and sure enough he was right according to Kioti's parts look up and old parts books.
So now I am really fuming!!
I emailed Kioti and as to my surprise the response was they have a solenoid in stock. So my next question to Kioti was where the he!! was this info and Why am I not able to access it.
I did not get a complete answerer to my question but all I have to say to one of my potential customers is I am very sorry that I did not have this info prior to your call once again I do apologize.

 

[Gittyup]

Clearly some kind of systemic problems. None of us is perfect. At least you cared enough to find out the real story so that next time you can better serve your customers. Some dealers wouldn't care. They probably make a couple dollars more selling the whole starter anyway.

 

[Highbeam]

Maybe call dealer #2 and ask him for his info source?

 

[grapevine]

Just a final update on the DK35. Got the new solenoid in at the dealer today. Picked it up, installed it and the tractor started good as new. Certainly was not trying to put any dealer on the spot - just trying to communicate some of the issues encountered when obtaining parts. The confusion with this solenoid stems from the fact Kioti does not list the solenoid as a separate part number from the starter. Fortunately the one dealer picked up the phone to Kioti and asked. Was a $216 decision in my favor.