Frustrated

[salaero]

Well have been having cold starting issue with my DK35. It is a 2002 or 2003 with about 875 hours on it. Just bought it 3 months ago.Have the starting down to a glow plug problem. Got it started last night and used it for about an hour (light duty). Noticed near the end the coolant light flickering (temp gauge is fine). So I shut it down ad check the coolant level and find it low. Top up the coolant and go to start it to look for leaks etc and click, click,click,click!!!! Would not start just clicks and won't turn over. All the lights and gauges are working fine. I go ahead and put the battery charger on over night and come out this morning to the same deal!!!!

I am really starting to feel I should have kept my 25 year old Green tractor as it never let me down like this! Hoping the dealer who sold it to me will step up and have a look at it.

Just needed to vent.....

 

[20 20]

Check battery connections, better yet check all connections, sounds like a lose or corroded wire. For the money, an inline heater does wonders you can find them at most auto stores or TSC.

 

[Egon]

Have you also checked oil levels. Try and give it a boost. Sometimes the old batteries don't have enough cranking amps left in them even when charged.

 

[kenstrac]

I know how you feel ,but with the safety crap they put on tractors now this is what you end up with no mater what color it is .
First check your connections to battery and to ground on frame and + to starter next check to see if your PTO switch is in off position ,check clutch safety switch.

 

[wallace]

Sound like the battery cables need to be cleaned. do forget to take the ground loose from the frame and clean that also.

 

[natem]

It may be your ignition switch. Mine will just make a clicking noise sometimes when I leave it out in the rain and forget to put the cover over the key hole. If you do a search on here you will find that some have sprayed i think brake cleaner in the key hole and that fixed it. Give it a try.

 

[salaero]

Well spoke to the dealer I bought it from and he is sending someone out tomorrow to have a look at it. I have to admit he has always been good with how he has treated me and stood behind his stuff. Hopefully we can get things sorted out tomorrow.....

 

[JonKioti]

Yes, I'm thinking battery cables too. This behaviour sounds like my father's other orange tractor with similar mileage.

Good luck, I know it will work out for you.

Jon

 

[salaero]

Just frustrating as it is kept outsde and it is hard to work at night on it....also a bit chilly. I'm sure all will work out.

 

[kodiakdave]

If its kept outside then the keyed ignition is a likely item. I take mine out about once a year to pop it open and clean and lube it. I'm not sure why they are prone to this but they are. If they get left outside the ignition will cause problems eventually.

Dave

 

[salaero]

Mech came by this afternoon and looked it over. He is bringing a starter back tomorrow to replace.

Still not sure if he checked the Glow Plugs.....

 

[beenthere]

It may be your ignition switch. Mine will just make a clicking noise sometimes when I leave it out in the rain and forget to put the cover over the key hole. If you do a search on here you will find that some have sprayed i think brake cleaner in the key hole and that fixed it. Give it a try.

Brake cleaner? Hmmm? I'd spray WD40 long before I'd use the brake cleaner.

And the clicking noise sounds like battery power connections, to me.

 

[Coyote machine]

Brake cleaner is like carb cleaner it may get it clean but it provides NO lubrication. I'd spray it with compressed air first to get out any moisture, and then with something like a WD-40 or CRC- silicone, which is 100% silicone with no residue from other byproducts of propellant. Or use electric switch cleaner; most brands are of high quality, followed by Tri-flow teflon spray.

 

[TBDonnelly]

If you do a search on here you will find that some have sprayed i think brake cleaner in the key hole and that fixed it. Give it a try.

It was brake cleaner(part 1)....followed up with a silicone lubricant(part 2).

Don

 

[salaero]

Well it ended up being a bad ground>>>>>you guys were correct!

Th glow plug issue was the Timer Relay box or at least when they plugged in the new one it started to work again. Hopefully this is it for awhile!

 

[JonKioti]

Great to hear.

Now go have some fun.

Jon

 

[jimmyj]

I have this exact problem with my CK30. No matter what I do I can't get the negative batter lead to stay tight.

I'm going to have to take it off, take the bolt out, file down the outside ring a bit so it squeezes tighter.

 

[Avondale]

I had the same problem with my DK35. Battery posts too small for clamp, high resistance glaze forming between post and clamp surface, etc. Finally got mad enough to change the battery and the cable/post clamps to general duty Canadian Tire stuff. No problems with battery since.

Still have the same problem many have had with ignition key switch but usually spray brake fluid on back of switch to get it going. I have a new switch but won't install until original gives up for good.

 

[Steve_Miller]

I have the CK30 and had the same problem with both posts, couldn't keep them tight enough. Filed the negative clamp and it is OK but the positive one I had to change. I'll throw out the idea that the Korean battery posts are metric and North American are standard and guess that the Korean metric is a bigger stud thus the clamp tightens together enough to hold but eventually corrodes and loosens. Don't know how many times I went to start the machine and all I would get is a click. Lift the hood and give the terminal a twist and away I would go.

Steve

 

[Highbeam]

I have made the mistake of spraying wd-40 into the ck30 keyhole and had all sorts of strange electrical issues. I then sprayed electrical parts cleaner into the hole and all is well. No lube is sprayed down there. My CK spent years parked outside in rainy washington but I ALWAYS had the plastic key hole cover in place.

Oh I also have loose battery connections though they have never left me stranded. I use an american gel cell replacement battery.