starter problem

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

ok can someone enlighten me as to what could possible be going on. here's what i got my starter got submerged and i finally took it off nd cleaned it well now i have the same thing i had before i cleaned it "nuthin". i turn the key and nuthin happens. i take the starter off and touch the wires with jumper cables and she spins perfectly i reinstall her and nuthin???i done took this thing off 4 times already and if any of you ewver took a hpx/xuv stater off it's not a piece of cake. so now i'm askin if any of you could think of somethng it might be. note i checked the voltage and i have full voltage going to the starter.

 

[shot_gun]

Do you have 12 volts to the little purple wire from the key switch? If you do check the ground to the engine. You can manually jump it fromt the power post to the little blade on the solenoid where the purple wire goes. If that doesnt work the only logical solution is the ground.

 

[kenmac]

Bad solenoid ?

 

[plowking]

I wonder if you have a safety switch somewhere that got wet and won't let it start? plowking

 

[Ryan03]

If starter location will allow, try attaching the positive lead of a digital multimeter to the positive post on the starter, while attaching the negative lead to the starter case, or mounting bolt. with the starter installed, attemp to crank the engine and watch the reading on the meter, if the voltage is below 10 volts while cranking, which I suspect it will be, you likely have one of two problems, a wasted starter that draws way to much power under load, [while engaging the flywheel], or a problem in the starter circuit with voltage drop at high amperage draws, which could be a bad ground, loose or corroded battery cable, bad solenoide, burnt or corroded battery cable etc. If you do have low voltage at the positive stud on starter while cranking, remove the multimeter leads from the starter and attach to the battery accordingly, now try and crank the engine again, is the voltage the same as it was on the starter, [low] if yes, verify the battery condition by checking charge and load testing[most auto parts stores will do this for free] If the battery checks out, make sure the engine turs over with a reasonable amount of effort [ not seized , hydrolocked, jumped timing etc] if this checks out, inspect battery cables for rub through or shorts, if this checks out, replace the starter. Good luck!!!!

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

ok this is what i'v done today. i took it off and tore it down again the solinoid is workin like it should so i took off the solinoid and attached a jumper cable to the main wire comin out the starter "nuthin" i checked the voltage going to the starter and it's good . i put my voltage meter in the 12volt outlet and watch it as i try to start it . the voltage doesn't drop a whole lot infact it stays about 12.45 volts . i'm think for some reason the starter motor itself might just be dead.

 

[MikeD74T]

Seems like your first post contradicts the last re: jumpering the starter direct ?? When you say it don't work when installed are you still jumpering directly to starter input or going thru the solenoid?
Otherwise... I had the same symptoms on my JD mower except could jumper starter in all positions. Just because the solenoid cycles doesn't mean it's making contact internally. New solenoid solved my problem. Good news is, despite most solenoids on Kawasaki website being about $150 at my JD dealer it was under $60. MikeD74T

 

[kenmac]

have you tried to jump the solenoid ?

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

yes i tried jumping the solenoid and i still get nuthin. i took the solenoid off the starter and connected the jumper cable right to the main hot wire comin out the starter and still nuthin.but if i touch the solenoid it acuates like it should.. i took it apart again last night and re did all my soldering connection on the brushs just to make sure they was good . if this doesn't work i'm gonna just buy a new starter i seen them on ebay for 69.00 this is a pretty good price atleast the best price so far.

eBay Motors: NEW Kawasaki Mule Gator Cub Cadet Starter (item 180260365562 end time Jul-08-08 14:57:42 PDT)

 

[kenmac]

well if you have checked everything. I guess it's starter time. I just replaced the starter motor on my ridding mower. When it was mounted to the mower . All it would do is click ( like dead batt) when I took the starter off it would turn . But, not very fast

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

i tried jumping it with the solenoid on it and off. i can now get it to spin when i jump it without the solenoid just by connecting the wire that runs into the back of the startrer and connects to the solenoid . my guess is it's a bad solenoid but john deere says it could be a bad wire inside the starter that is grounding out.now i tried to jump it by touching the two main wire s in the back meaning the one comin from tha battery and the one going into the starter and it won't jump that way but it will spin if i just touch the wire going into the starter and ground it off to the outside of the starter. my mechanic buddy said that with the solenoid off it should spin with just connecting the wires to the back and grounding it fff but it don't???? so i gave up on it today.lol john deere wants 58.00 for a new solenoid and 430.00 for a new starter. napa wants 560.00 for a new starter ebay wants 87.00 including shipping and tax so it don't take a rocket scientist to figure out what way i went. i figured 87.00 and i'll have it all new because the john deere mechanic said if i was to put a new solenoid on it and it's grounding out it would just fry the new solenoid and i would be out the price of that part too. i'm gonna take it back down and snip off my new brushes i installed a few months ago they still look brand new.it cost me over 70.00 bucks for a brush kit to rebuild it.

 

[Skipholiday]

That's an excellent price for the starter. I added it to my ebay favorites.
My dealer wants $243 for the hpx JD starter.
Thanks

We made a large type washer that goes behind the bendix to block debris from entering the starter motor.
So far (knock on pot metal) we haven't had any more problems.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

i figured if it made through the slop i put it through for almost 5 years it deserves to die .lol i just freaked at the price they wanted for a new one. man they are proud of their parts and nap is even more proud.