Electrical - L185 Cranks when trying to jump

L185_Jim · Aug 17, 2004

It's a Kubota L185 that was showing signs of a weak battery. Over the past few weeks, I've jumped it several times to get it going with no problems. Tonight I went to jump it and as soon as I had a good connection, the started would kick in and crank the motor. I had the key switch in the off position. I did notice last time I jumped and used the tractor that the starter switch was sticking a little, so I may have fried that but I haven't had any problems with the iginition switch until now. I will probably replace both, any words of advice on switches?

thanks

PineRidge · Aug 17, 2004

Sounds to me like you may have a problem with a bad starter solenoid. Are you sure that the ignition switch is the culprit? I would disconnect the battery from the circuit and check the operation of the starter switch as well as the solenoid using an ohm meter.

jinman · Aug 18, 2004

I think PineRidge is correct. I had a solenoid weld itself one time and the tractor's starter just kept on spinning after the key was turn off. I had to quickly disconnect one battery terminal to get it to stop cranking. It sounds to me like you also have a stuck solenoid, or a short in the start contacts on your ignition switch.

I also had a tractor with a problem in the ignition that caused the starter to engage by itself. It only happened when I left the tractor out in the sun on a very hot day. One day I looked up and the tractor was going across the road, heading toward the ditch. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif It quit cranking just as it got into the shallow ditch. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif After that, I left the transmission in neutral and disconnected the battery until I got the ignition replaced. Can you imagine what might have happened if the tractor had started by itself? I don't even want to think about it. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Junkman · Aug 18, 2004

If you were trying to start the tractor with a low battery, you fried the starter solenoid. Low voltage causes high temperatures which fuse the contact points.

Soundguy · Aug 18, 2004

Another thing to consider.. unless that diesel has an electric fuel cutoof solenoid.. the key switch being off won't prevent it from starting.

My yanmar can be cranked and started with the key off by using a screwdriver... the diesel injector pump is hooked to the fuel tank.. as long as it has air, fuel and compression.. it doesn't care about the key switch.

Newer and differently equipped tractors incorporate fuel line shuttoffs.. or even solenoids right on the injector pump that prevent it from getting fuel till the 'ignition' is on.

Still.. won't hurt to disconnect everything and give it a once over with an ohm meter. You may still have a switch problem, and then inadvertantly noticed that you can start it without the key switch.

For instance.. if you jump to the wrong side of the solenoid.. it will crank immediatly.

Soundguy

Tractors4u · Aug 23, 2004

The L185 does not have a fuel cut off switch. That switch engages the starter and turns on power for the lights. The switch would have nothing to do with it when you are jump starting the tractor.