New Holland TC29D Starting Trouble

[BarryBolio]

I have a NH TC29D Compact tractor and for the last 8 months I have difficulty starting it up. I believe that the issue maybe a bad starter, primarily because after 10 - 15 tries and the right amount of jiggling and jostling the key within the switch I can get the tractor to start. One bit of evidence that doesn't support my theory is that if I turn the tractor off after running for an hour or so I will not have nearly the same difficulty as when starting cold.

My level of mechanical ability is low, but I'm a hard worker and feel that I'm fairly inteligent. Am I on the right path with a bad stater and then could a ameture like myself actually do the repair?

Thanks,
Barry

 

[Utopia Texas]

With the help of someone you might try a voltage tester at the starter before and after the key is turned to see what type of voltage drop you may have. See if the battery is good first then the wiring from the battery to starter, and finally the starter. If battery voltage is low, cable connections dirty or a worn starter that draws too much the starter may turn over slowly or not at all. Then again it could be a worn out ignition switch.

 

[BarryBolio]

Are you familiar with this model tractor. It may sound stupid, but I cannot figure out how to access the starter...

 

[Utopia Texas]

No, I have never seen this particular model. By "access" do you mean you cannot physically get to the starter or you cannot find it? To find it just follow the positive cable from the battery to the starter.

 

[BarryBolio]

When looking at the engine initially all the wiring appears to run toward the insturment cluster and ignition. I belive the starter is housed inside that arear, but I will have to look again.

I am in the process of changing the battery along with the positive lead as it was completed corroded.

 

[Utopia Texas]

The battery and cables are a very good and simple start to the diagnosis. Be sure both ends of the negative cable are polished up and snug also. You need a good complete circuit for starting and the negative part of the loop is just as important as the positive side.

 

[Harry in Ky]

The starter is on the left side(if viewed from the seat). Open the hood, remove the left engine side shield. There is(at least there was at one time) a plastic shield covering the front portion of the starter, solenoid , battery positive post and other related wiring. It is, or was, attached with a plastic nut threaded onto the battery positive post. This must be removed to view and access much of the starter. Once removed, I usually don't put it back on.
Your problem is most likely just a low voltage start signal to the solenoid. These tractors are well known for it. After a few years, the start signal from the keyswitch through the start relay and whatever, seems to become weaker over time and this is the result. I have found more than one. My solution is to add another relay somewhere near the starter, wherever it can be safely mounted and somewhat protected from exhaust heat and/or other damage. Connect a wire, at least 14G, from the battery cable positive post on the starter, through the relay directly to the start terminal on the solenoid. Use the existing wire coming out of the harness to energize the relay. Problem solved. I've done a number of tractors this way, and had no more problems with starters failing to engage.