Tractor won't start - Preheater Relay?

[7mmrum]

Went out to start the tractor and it wouldn't start. Turn the key, glow plug light comes on as usually, but as soon as the glow plug light comes on I hear loud clicking. I jump off the tractor open the hood and find out it is coming from a small 12v relay on top of the firewall next to the "Preheater Relay". I turn the tractor off, now this is with the key out of the tractor..... a new sound, similar to a bumble bee in a small thin card board box buzzing around. I locate that noise to the larger black box labeled "Preheater Relay".

Hmm so I check all the wires, and make sure the battery is good. I attempt to start the tractor, no luck nothing happens, just sits there clicking? Glow plug light eventually goes out but still clicks and when you turn the key nothing. Turn the key off and pull it out and again I hear the buzz in the preheater relay box, goes on for about 5 seconds and then stops.

Tractor worked perfectly fine last weekend.

bought in 2005 new now has 239hrs on it.

Any suggestions? My first thought would be to replace the two relays?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Charge your battery. If that works well have to figure out why it went dead. Maybe something sticking on - - like the heater relay.
larry

 

[DIRTCUTTER]

Went out to start the tractor and it wouldn't start. Turn the key, glow plug light comes on as usually, but as soon as the glow plug light comes on I hear loud clicking. I jump off the tractor open the hood and find out it is coming from a small 12v relay on top of the firewall next to the "Preheater Relay". I turn the tractor off, now this is with the key out of the tractor..... a new sound, similar to a bumble bee in a small thin card board box buzzing around. I locate that noise to the larger black box labeled "Preheater Relay".

Hmm so I check all the wires, and make sure the battery is good. I attempt to start the tractor, no luck nothing happens, just sits there clicking? Glow plug light eventually goes out but still clicks and when you turn the key nothing. Turn the key off and pull it out and again I hear the buzz in the preheater relay box, goes on for about 5 seconds and then stops.

Tractor worked perfectly fine last weekend.

bought in 2005 new now has 239hrs on it.

Any suggestions? My first thought would be to replace the two relays?

Disconect and try cleaning the the prongs on the pre heat relay with sand paper. Did water come in connect with the relay, rain or washing

 

[7mmrum]

could be possibly rain, we did have a good storm roll through the other day. I'll clean the contacts and see if that helps.

Thanks for the suggestions

 

[SPYDERLK]

Did you check your batt and cables under load?
larry

 

[TractorLegend]

Low voltage battery (going dead) can cause relays to cycle rapidly.

 

[Grrrr]

Any suggestions? My first thought would be to replace the two relays?

I'd definitely try charging your battery and cleaning the terminals before buying any new relays.

 

[shawnrogan]

Happens every few months to me also on my CK30. It is always the connections at the battery terminals and the ground to the frame. I take everything apart, sand, add some grease and all is fine. As a matter of fact, I had to clean everything yesterday for the same reason. I attribute it to my tactor sitting out in the weather.

 

[Harvey7]

I had a similar problem, the positive post was loose.

 

[7mmrum]

Sorry it took so long to get back to you guys. I was on vacation this past week.

Anyway, went out and removed the leads from the battery on the tractor, cleaned the posts up and the leads. Connected it back together and it started right up.

Must have corroded some. Battery read a 12.5v prior to cleaning, going to put a little bit of multi-purpose grease on the terminals to help prevent this in the future.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[Grrrr]

Glad you got it fixed

 

[Highbeam]

With the terminals being corroded I will assume you have a liquid acid battery. I recommend looking real closely around the battery especially under it for corrosion from the acid sloshing out of the battery. Depsite having electrolyte levels not overfilled, I found that the acid would slosh out and all over the nose of the tractor making a real mess including corrosion at the terminals. I would hate to think about the damage that might happen from acid being sucked through the radiator.

The solution for me was a switch to an AGM optima style battery with gel instead of liquid acid. These are leakproof and can be mailed full of the "gel". No more new mess, now just recovering from the damage done by the acid.

 

[TractorLegend]

The solution for me was a switch to an AGM optima style battery with gel instead of liquid acid. These are leakproof and can be mailed full of the "gel". No more new mess, now just recovering from the damage done by the acid.

Yeah the costco battery that was shipped with mine looked great one month then the next the positive terminal was all corroded and acid ate up some grey paint on the battery shelf. An Optima style battery should be considered standard equipment.
Here's another top shelf option for Men Made of Money or Loaded Ladies:
Odyssey PC925 MJT

 

[Highbeam]

I actually used NAPA's orbital series AGM battery. It is black but is made as a starting battery so quivalent to the red topped optima. It was only about 100$ and bolts right in place.