Tractor died as I was operatiing it

[dar1]

Tractor died as I was operating it

Hello, I have a Terramite 2005 TC5 2wd loaded/backhoe with a 20hp Kohler gas engine. I was operating it yesterday and it just quit running. I think that the ignition was stuck in the start position and it drained the battery and ruined the starter. The ignition has stuck in the start position before and I should have fixed it.

I tested the battery and it is good. I jumped the starter and it made a spinning noise but did not engage the flywheel to attempt to start the motor. Am I on the right track? Any other suggestions? I need to get it fixed and back running as soon as possible. Any advise is greatly appreciated.

 

[Industrial Toys]

How long did you run it? Did you not hear anything out of the ordinary? When you jumped the starter, did you also energize the starter (pull in) solenoid?

 

[dar1]

Hi, I did not hear anything it just died. I touched a screwdriver to the 2 posts on the started solenoid and it sparked and made a spinning sound but did not turn the engine over. If the ignition is stuck in start and clicking will it cause the tractor to die? My thought was it drained the battery, tractor died and ruined the starter?

 

[dar1]

I ran it for about 20-30 min max

 

[Industrial Toys]

So you don't dare use the keyswitch, or why are you jumping it? So the battery is charged again?

I have to confess, that I have always wondered what happens to a starter that remains engaged? Maybe someone can say if there is an over-running mechanism on most starter motors?

 

[dar1]

Yes I did use the key switch to initially start the tractor, once it died and I tried to start it again it just clicked. I hooked up a new battery and when I tried to turn it over it still just clicked. I jumped the starter and it made a high speed spinning noise but would not turn the engine over or engage the flywheel

 

[Industrial Toys]

What just clicked with the key? Does it have a heavy duty starter relay? Key runs relay, relay runs starter solenoid, solenoid pushes out starter gear and makes the connection across those two starter posts to connect starter windings to battery.

 

[RandyT]

Which 20 hp Kohler engine. Is this the Command with the solenoid shift starter. If so then if you jump across the two big terminals it will spin the starter motor but won't engage the starter gear into the flywheel. the small terminal on the solenoid not only engages the gear into the flywheel but jumps the big contacts to engage the motor. Also if the starter gear isn't fully engaging the flywheel it won't allow the contact to send power to the starter motor to turn crank the engine.

Also if this is the solenoid shift starter be aware that the price difference between the solenoid and the complete starter with a new solenoid in minor. Like $16 difference for the OEM starters.

 

[MossRoad]

Also, if you changed the battery, and it still just clicks when the key is turned, remove the negative cable from the end opposite of the battery, clean it up real good, then replace it. Do the same with the positive cable where it connects to the starter. Most times that I've had a clicking, it's been a dirty/corroded negative cable at the ground point or the negative battery terminal.

 

[dar1]

I will get the engine model. BTW the starter is a Kohler 2509811, does that help? Any idea why the engine would just die and then not start and just click when turning the ignition to start? I pulled the starter, should I test it?