Starting problem on L4740

[jaymak]

Need help so I can get my tractor back in the garage . . .
I was moving logs with pallet forks and cutting rounds with my chainsaw. I started and stopped the tractor several times to saw, move rounds, etc.
On the fifth or sixth time, the tractor would not start, and the intellipanel was acting flaky. It was making some clicking and buzzing noises.
So, I assumed the battery must have run down with the frequent starts, but no, it is measuring 12.5 volts. Still, I am charging the battery, and not having any luck. My charger is indicating the battery is 90% charged, but the symptoms remain. Flaky panel, flashing LCD, clicking/buzzing, and nothing when turning the key to start position.

Does anyone have a suggestion?

Thanks,
John

 

[Kubota 2007]

First thing is to make sure the battery is good, Sounds like the battery is shorted out. A shorted out battery will show 12.5 voltage or even higher, but won't handle a load. "Remove it"and try a known good battery first.

 

[crazyal]

If you have a multimeter (I assume that's how you measured the battery voltage) I would have someone try starting the tractor while measuring to see how low the voltage drops when it's trying to turn the engine over. Just don't do it very often because low voltage is real hard on your starter.

 

[jaymak]

Thanks I'll give that a try tonight and will update. Thanks guys.

 

[jaymak]

I think you guys hit the nail on the head . . . the battery voltage drops from 13 to 6 when I turn the key to the run position (not even start). So, I'm betting a new battery will solve this problem . . . more to follow when I get a chance to pick one up. Hopefully the shock from moving logs around just knocked something loose inside he battery.

 

[94BULLITT]

You may want to consider a optima battery. They are shock resistant and they are sealed so they won't leak acid all over you tractor.

 

[PoorPlowboy]

Optima batteries made in the last two years are junk, since Johnson Controls bought them and did cost cutting resulting in enormous failure rates. Many others make AGM batteries with excellent reputations. Die Hard Platinum, East Penn Deka Intimidator, SuperStart Extreme AGM, etc.

 

[gwdixon]

Your charger must not have a "start" mode where 100 amps or so is fed to the starter.

Not sure if it would work with a shorted battery.

Maybe if you took the battery out of the circuit and just used the "start" on the charger (if you have it).

 

[94BULLITT]

Optima batteries made in the last two years are junk, since Johnson Controls bought them and did cost cutting resulting in enormous failure rates. Many others make AGM batteries with excellent reputations. Die Hard Platinum, East Penn Deka Intimidator, SuperStart Extreme AGM, etc.

JCI has owned them for years. I think they even supply batteries to die hard. I know jci supplies the to walmart but some are exide too.

 

[crazyal]

I'm not sure what options are available given the limited space.