John Deere 5320 No or very little power to the starter?

[5030]

If I were you, first thing I would have done (and not purchase a new starter) would be to take the starter solenoid apart and have a look-see at the terminals, I bet they are burned and not making good contact. Real typical when it comes to starter solenoids.

 

[steve flint]

I had to buy a new starter the brushes rolled out locked the old one up that was what burned the ground washer up and the solenoid was bad and you couldn’t take it apart also the plastic was cracked. The battery has threaded terminals with 9/16 nuts and washer on them, the only way to have on a tractor!! I took a wire wheel and shined them up.

 

[dcarman]

My 5320 solenoid won't engage or spin the starter, I started to start it the solenoid engaged I let off it and thought I smelled a small burning smell then went to engage the starter only a very weak clicking then nothing, the positive post on the starter tests almost 14 volts, when I turn the key I get an occasional weak click but not every time. I replaced the starter with a brand new one, still when I turn the key sometimes I get a clicking like the solenoid is engaging but still no power to the starter. The old starter under disassembly, one of the brushes had rolled out of the holder and locked it up. What component would cause No power? Fuse Link above the fuel filter one of the big black fuse blocks? Help???

It's the cables! I've seen even new cables so this very thing. Have someone hold the key to try to stay it while you wiggle the cables. One is bad.

 

[Pecosbill7]

Glad you seem to have gotten it fixed. I also have a 5320 and my approach in such a situation would be to first suspect the battery, and if that checks out then the cables. To check them I simply take a pair of jumper cables and go directly from the battery to the positive connection on the starter with the key on. If it cranks then you know that’s the issue. If not, then connect the negative terminal to a ground near the starter. If it then cranks you can figure that the negative cable is bad. If neither solves the issue then I move on to the starter and the solenoid. This way I don’t spend a bunch of money on parts that may not need replacing, although from what you said it sounded like replacing them was absolutely necessary.