Kioti won't start when wet or cold(snow)

[MTUser]

In the fall, when it rained once my Kioti CK25 would not start in that it would not turn over, no click, nothing. When I opened the hood and let the wind blow through it for a while it started right up.

Now it just turned cold and snowy, I see the same behavior. All the lights seem fine, but nothing after the glow plug light goes out.

I have an diesel F350, so I am used to starting diesel engines. I know from my truck that a weak or marginal battery will not start the truck, but it will turn the engine over. My tractor battery does not appear to be the problem here.

Is this failure to start when wet a common problem that usually has the same cause? If so, can someone please help with a suggestion of what to do?

 

[VTFireftr]

Chances are you have a bad ignition switch.

I had as imilar problem until I replaced mine. No problems since.

 

[kiotiken]

I had a similar problem on my JD 955, although I never attributed it to rain or snow. It was a bad negative batt. lead. Couldn't tell until you peeled back some of the insulation.

 

[MTUser]

Thank you for the very helpful reply. Short of buying one and trying it installed, is there any way to test this idea by "hot-wiring" the tractor?

Chances are you have a bad ignition switch.

I had as imilar problem until I replaced mine. No problems since.

 

[MTUser]

Thank you for the suggestion. So in your case did you replace the lead and that fixed the problem?

I had a similar problem on my JD 955, although I never attributed it to rain or snow. It was a bad negative batt. lead. Couldn't tell until you peeled back some of the insulation.

 

[kiotiken]

Thank you for the suggestion. So in your case did you replace the lead and that fixed the problem?

I had thrown my hands up long before finding the problem, it was my mechanic friend who found it and I believe he simply cut a little off the wire and crimped on a new end.

I should have mentioned, but this was a 20 yr old tractor and on something newer like your CK25, I'd guess at the ignition switch first. That's what we started looking at.

 

[whiskywizard]

If you go back and scan the Kioti threads here, you'll see that the keyed ignition switch is a weak point. Ken and VTF have the odds on their side and are probably right. Some simple checks will confirm/deny it.

Try spraying contact cleaner into the ignition switch and then wiggling the key a bit as you turn it. I sprayed mine with a health injection of Fluidfilm as a preventative measure. It works and feels good so far - only time will tell....

Have you done any other troubleshooting yet to narrow it down?

Do you know that the battery post connections, the frame ground connection, and the starter and solenoid connections are all OK?

Other than looking at the lamps, have you checked battery voltage, or tried boosting to see if that will turn the engine over?

 

[MTUser]

Thanks for the help and suggestions. I am off to Grainger to buy contact cleaner and Fluidfilm. I'll start with that. I've looked over the battery connections and they are nice and clean. If this doesn't fix it, I'll buy a switch.

If you go back and scan the Kioti threads here, you'll see that the keyed ignition switch is a weak point. Ken and VTF have the odds on their side and are probably right. Some simple checks will confirm/deny it.

Try spraying contact cleaner into the ignition switch and then wiggling the key a bit as you turn it. I sprayed mine with a health injection of Fluidfilm as a preventative measure. It works and feels good so far - only time will tell....

Have you done any other troubleshooting yet to narrow it down?

Do you know that the battery post connections, the frame ground connection, and the starter and solenoid connections are all OK?

Other than looking at the lamps, have you checked battery voltage, or tried boosting to see if that will turn the engine over?

 

[psdx]

Since your initial post suggests that your tractor starts again after it dries out I have a suggestion. If you can get your tractor cold and wet so it won't start, take a hair dryer and dry the ignition switch area real good. Medium heat for 2-3 minutes should be sufficient. See if your tractor starts then. If it does, at least you'll know the switch purchase is more of a sure thing.

....or you could just keep a hair dryer handy and forget the new switch.

 

[Gittyup]

I'd be suspicious of the battery ground connection or a connector somewhere (they too have been problematic for some). Suggest disconnectiong all connectors and applying dielectric grease to as many as you can find. Same with the ground connection on the frame.

My switch never behaved quite that way, even though it is a piece of doodoo. The switches I've read about (and have) are intermittent. Mine, you have to hold just so. But if you do it starts perfectly. Before I "fixed" mine with fluid film and dielectric grease, it would actually stall the tractor if giggled or bumped ever so slightly. I also not so sure that raising the hood would have much effect on the key switch either. Maybe the under-hood relays though.... or as i said a connector.