PT425 Kohler No Clicky, No Starty = corroded positive battery cable

[MossRoad]

Mowed my lawn last week. Turned the tractor off in the garage. Went to start it later to reposition it, and no click from the starter and that's that. Checked to make sure the PTO switch wasn't on. O.K. Had no time to check it out until today (fish were biting). Put a screwdriver across the big terminals on the starter solenoid and nothing. Put a meter on the positive battery cable at the starter and had 12.8V. I sure hope it isn't the starter solenoid again, as I just replaced it and the starter as a unit last year at $155. Removed both battery cables from the battery, cleaned ends and battery terminals. Reinstalled and still nothing. Removed and tested the new ignition switch from last year. That's good and 12.8v up there, too. Removed the starter and put jumper cables to it directly from that battery and the starter is fine. Put the starter back in and put the jumper cable from positive battery terminal to post on starter, then turned the key and it started fine....

Grrrr...... bad positive battery cable.

Removed the positive battery cable from the tractor and inspected. The area under the two bolts and plate that squeeze the cable to the connector was corroded as heck. Cut off 2" from the cable, stripped, cleaned to bare copper, cleaned connector and plate, bolted back up, reconnected and all is well.

Mowed the front yard and it started raining..... Another fine afternoon in PT land. :laughing:

 

[KentT]

Don't you just love the battery access on the Kohler-powered machines of your vintage? I can't believe a design that requires you to remove the muffler to replace the battery -- but I've experienced it firsthand! :thumbdown:

 

[ponytug]

FWIW:
One way to cut down on corrosion besides the usual battery care-


Getting the cable soldered in place reduces the area for corrosion.

All the best,

Peter

 

[MossRoad]

Don't you just love the battery access on the Kohler-powered machines of your vintage? I can't believe a design that requires you to remove the muffler to replace the battery -- but I've experienced it firsthand! :thumbdown:

Let's see... hmmm.... 2001 model year. Battery dies about every 5-6 years. This is my third battery, so...

Battery #1 - 2001 + 5 = 2006.
Battery #2 - 2006 + 5 = 2011.
Battery #3 - 2011 + 5 = 2016.... CRUD!!! :mur:

:laughing:

Fortunately, I can get to the battery terminals very easy. But you're right, removing it on this model series is no fun. Muffler has to come off.

 

[MossRoad]

FWIW:
One way to cut down on corrosion besides the usual battery care-
View attachment 483745

Getting the cable soldered in place reduces the area for corrosion.

All the best,

Peter

I thought about that. We do that on some equipment at work.

 

[KentT]

Let's see... hmmm.... 2001 model year. Battery dies about every 5-6 years. This is my third battery, so...

Battery #1 - 2001 + 5 = 2006.
Battery #2 - 2006 + 5 = 2011.
Battery #3 - 2011 + 5 = 2016.... CRUD!!! :mur:

:laughing:

Fortunately, I can get to the battery terminals very easy. But you're right, removing it on this model series is no fun. Muffler has to come off.

:laughing: At least it is a factory, common Kohler muffler and not a one-off Tazewell creation. :thumbsup: