redidbull 54 #1 Posted June 29, 2012 I have a 1975 No Name. It ran great but has been sitting for a couple months and will not start. I charged the battery, maybe not fully, and it does not want to start. All I get is a click. The lights work as does the clutch. Strange thing is wen I turn the key with the lights and clutch engaged there seems to be no draw on the battery, lights don't dim. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,566 #2 Posted June 29, 2012 Jim, put a voltmeter across the battery terminals and watch the battery voltage as you try to crank the engine. If the voltage drops to 9 volts or lower, the battery is suspect. If the voltage stays higher than 10, you probably have excess electrical resistance in the starter circuit - start by cleaning battery terminals, grounds on the starter solenoid, etc. Get back to us and more accurate troubleshooting help can be made with the info on battery voltage during cranking. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #3 Posted July 1, 2012 Thanks for the response. I was able to check around the tractor yesterday and the batt holds at 12 when trying to start. I traced a ground to the starter so I am figuring the solenoid is not getting the 12v to the starter. I couldn't find how the 12v gets to the starter. The - is right on top but I couldn't find the hot wire to the starter. I will get a wiring diagram and try to work it through. Maybe a bad solenoid? Thanks again. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,566 #4 Posted July 1, 2012 Jim, the next step would be bypassing or "jumping" the starter relay. In the diragram below, I use an ammeter with jumper clips to both bypass the relay and measure the draw on the starter. If you choose not to use the ammeter, a plain jumper wire will bypass the contacts in the relay to tell you if the starter and the starter wiring are OK . Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #5 Posted July 7, 2012 Thanks for the info. I have not had much time but will check everything this weekend. What has been kinda throwing me is the wire going to the starter nut on the top is a black wire. I was looking for where the Hot wire was. It IS the hot wire. Per your diagram the starter body is the ground. That is what I was going to check next. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #6 Posted July 13, 2012 I checked from the body of the starter to the hot wire and when the key is turned it gets 12volts. Appears to be the stater maybe? I will pull it off next time I work on it. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,566 #7 Posted July 13, 2012 Jim, this may be your next step You do not need to remove the starter from the engine. Use the positive side of a battery jump cable to connect between the battery (+) terminal and the (+) lug on the starter assembly. IF THE GROUND CONNECTION IS GOOD, the starter will spin. If the starter does not spin, connect the negative battery jump cable between the (-) of the battery to the metal outer shell of the starter. Reconnect the (+) jumper to the (+) battery terminal and touch the (+) jump cable to the (+) lug of the starter. No action from the starter means the starter is jammed or dead. If the jump cable sparks when you touch the starter lug - the starter is mechanically jammed No spark means the starter is an open circuit and electrically dead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #8 Posted July 15, 2012 Thank you. If the rain holds out I will check that in a little while. Thanks. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #9 Posted August 20, 2012 Hi, sorry for the hiatus on this. I have had major car break downs these past few months and have not been on here. I did the jumper eable test and the starter did not do anything. No arc no nothing. I am assuming it at this point it is NG. What do you suggest as a next move? Thanks for hanging on there with me. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,566 #10 Posted August 20, 2012 No problem Jim, I'm just getting thru a coordinated daughter's wedding, computer, car, furnace, water softener conspiracy to occupy all my free time for the last few weeks. The starter is electrically dead. Depending on your preferences, the starter can be easily replaced, or, can be disassembled and checked. The brushes may simply be worn or stuck in the holders. If the armature wiring is burned or the commutator is worn, that would warrant replacement. I believe there are older posts on this site dealing with some degree of starter rebuilding. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #11 Posted August 21, 2012 Thanks so much. I am the type to pull things apart and see if I can fix them before shelling out money we really don't have. I will keep you posted. Thanks again and good luck with that shopping list. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JackC 617 #12 Posted August 21, 2012 It may just need new brushes. There are lots of videos on U-tube on how to do it and get it back together. There is an auto electric shop in my town and I often let him rebuild them for me which usually involves replacing the brushes and lubricating the bearings or bushings and the starter gear. He is very reasonable. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #13 Posted August 26, 2012 Well finally got to take the starter off and apart and found the culprit. Yup corroded right off the stud. I may in the future rebuild this but time is tight right now and I am looking for a replacement. Thanks for all the help. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,403 #14 Posted August 26, 2012 Lots of inexpensive replacement starters have been found on eBay. I bought a brand new one for only $25.00 last year for my K301S. You never did mention what engine you have, only that it was a '75 no-name. 1975 would not have been a no-name as they were only in 1973. What is the ID number on the tractor? 10 through 16 HP used one starter, and the 8 HP used a different one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #15 Posted August 26, 2012 Yea for some reason I keep saying 75 but yes it is a 73 auto with a 12 HP. Ebay didn't have anything but 1 reasonably priced one. There is one in the classifieds but the owner does not know if it will fit my 12HP. Here is his write up. "I have a good starter for a WH 800...." .He said it will not fit his 8HP. Thanks. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,403 #16 Posted August 26, 2012 That's not what you want. Do an eBay search for "kohler k241 starter" or "kohler K301 starter", etc., and you should find them from about $38.00 and up. You may also want to contact one of our vendors here on RS. Kelly sells used parts, and jdog_kustoms does as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Save Old Iron 1,566 #17 Posted August 26, 2012 Way to go Jim. You used sound troubleshooting practices to get you to a point where the starter appeared to be the culprit. Dissassembly proved your theory correct. No time, money or gasoline wasted with parts you don't need. Well done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #18 Posted August 27, 2012 Way to go Jim. You used sound troubleshooting practices to get you to a point where the starter appeared to be the culprit. Dissassembly proved your theory correct. No time, money or gasoline wasted with parts you don't need. Well done. I did have help from you though and really appreciate it. I will search ebay using the terms suggested. Thanks again to all. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #19 Posted August 27, 2012 Ebay has a few from $40 on up. A new one is $54. Tough to buy used for $40 when new is $54. I have sometime, actually no money, so it will wait. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redidbull 54 #20 Posted September 12, 2012 I went with the 54 dollar new starter. When I hooked it up and charged up the battery, I quickly turned the key off because of the noise it made. Well turns out the starter was turning faster and smoother than the old one. Tractor is now running again. Thanks to all that helped. I couldn't have done it alone. Jim Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
