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.

 

[kiotiken]

I've looked over the battery connections and they are nice and clean.

This is the mistake we made with mine. The connections look fine, it's not until you pull back some of the insulation that you know there's an issue. I'm not saying this is it for you, I'm still betting on the switch, this is just info for the group. I've also taken part in other discussion here on TBN where this turned out to be the problem, it's a strange one that is very hard to figure out.

 

[Redneck in training]

This is from somebody who never saw Kioti closer than from 100 yards. Most newer tractors have a shutdown solenoid on the injection pump. Check if there is voltage on the solenoid when the key is on. Also check that the glow plugs have voltage on them when turned on.

Ops. I didn't read the original post completely. Since it doesn't turn the engine I would also think that you need to check
1.) the ground connection.
2.) Is there voltage on starter solenoid or do you hear it at least clicking.
3.) If it is clicking then it might be faulty.
4.) If it is not clicking the key switch is most likely bad.

 

[somguyss]

If you are having problems when it is damp and cold or evenreally dusty outside you may want to check a number of things.
1. I'd check all of my electrical connections for good connection, and make sure there is no water or corrosion in the connectors.
2. I would try spraying the ignitionswitch with a water dryer solvent first and then come back with the electrical wash and a good electrica spray lubricant.
3. KIOTI ha also been known that in tractors built prior to mid 2009 had relays that weren't water or dust tight and could get moisture and dust in the relays and cause the same issues that you are running into, dealers in Texas and Oklahoma and the Grat white North will remeber this.
4. We all like to keep a clean tractor but when you wash it no power washer or spray nozzle near any electrical connection or relay cause they aren't water tight and designed to have that kind of exposure to the elements. I know it sounds crazy it's a tractor should be able to be around these conditions bu the Koreans aren't known for always using the best products for the applicaton.
5. I would recommend that you unplug all of your connectors clean and place dielectric grease in the connections and put back togther and spray with a water displacement spray or gel. I would do every connection on the machine, I have dealt with this issue for years and have seen it on thousands of machinea.

Hope I hav been able to be some help and good luck

 

[ritcheyvs]

See my post on troubleshooting possible switch-related no-glow problems:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...231184-cold-start-problem-recommendation.html

 

[whitmerlegacyfarm]

I just replace my ignition switch on my DK50 HST. Had same identical problem as yours. If i would turn key off whole way and then to start position fast it usually started but never from the cycling threw the glow plugs. Mine was under warranty so i just stop by dealer and they gave me a knew switch to try. Fixed the problem and took 10 minutes tops to replace. Pulled 3 screws out, unsnapped wire harness, plugged new in and put threw switch hole on panel and screwed panel right back on. Im not mechanically inclined but i'm gonna bet it's ur Switch.

 

[Coyote machine]

If it were just not cranking when cold or extremely hot then I'd look at the battery. Since it seems more of a moisture or cold, but not sub-zero conditions I'd look at the switch and you could also take the ground cable at the battery and grab it and move it around then try cranking to see if that changes anything. If it does then the cable or connection to the battery may be suspect. Whatever it is I suggest cleaning the battery terminals after removing them from the battery posts and then spraying the posts and terminals with a battery terminal spray to keep them sealed and devoid of moisture/oxidation. Get the plastic cap from Kioti that protects the ig switch from water/ moisture and install it regardless of what the problem turns out to be.

 

[Hard Knocks]

Is it just not cranking? If so check the clutch switch also. If they get moisture in them and freeze they won't complete the crank circuit.

 

[MTUser]

Hello,

Thank you all for the help. My tractor is now starting fine. As there is no dealer around here, I bought this used, I wanted to see if I could get it going without having to buy a switch, the most likely culprit given all the posts here. If I couldn't replace it quickly, I wanted to try cleaning it. One poster suggested contact cleaner, and liquid film when clean. I bought the can of cleaner and ordered the liquid film from Grainger.

When I started spraying the cleaner in the key slot and wiggling the key in it, black residue came out the bottom and remained on the key. I cleaned the key off and re-applied the cleaner until the liquid was clear.

Next, the acid test, try the tractor. Now at this point the temperature as about 8 degrees with little sun on a high humidity day. I hear a click, and it turns over! It took a little longer to start in the cold, but start it did. Since then it has started every time I have gone out to clear snow. I consider this problem well and truly solved for now - maybe the switch will go bad in the future. When my liquid film comes in, I will be spraying that in the switch t try to protect it from the elements.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[VictorW]

If you have a Bobcat dealer around, you probably could get some parts from them if it's a hurry. Tell them it's a CT225 Bobcat. Otherwise you could contact a Kioti dealer, some post here, and they will be happy to send you the part. Another member here recently picked up a Bobcat glow plug and it had the same part number as a Kioti. The tractors are the same except for the fel, bh, and a few odd parts.

Those ignition switches are the culprit for many electrical problems when they get dirty.

 

[psdx]

Hello,
When I started spraying the cleaner in the key slot and wiggling the key in it, black residue came out the bottom and remained on the key. I cleaned the key off and re-applied the cleaner until the liquid was clear.

Some ignition switches have a cover to keep the grit and grime out. I am guessing your's doesn't. What about a marine ignition switch cover? Here's one where you remove/reinstall the ignition switch and put a threaded piece in there to hold a rubber boot that seals the dirt and moisture out. What about something like this?

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=11378