Tractor starting Problem

 I have a 25hp Kohler engine on my 8yr old Yazoo. Last summer it stared
having starting problems, it'd click on turning the key, but that's
it. A firm tap on the starter would get it going. So I figured starter
had to be bad (or solenoid) So I replaced it (With a generic not
Kohler Brand), and same results. So now I figured battery must be
dead; but being the end of the season I wan't going to buy a new
battery to have it sit for months unused. So that brings us to today.
Repaced the battery with the same size 350A, book calls for 330A (and
noticed old battery was only 2 yrs old) and still same results!
What else could cause a starting problem of just clicking (sounds like
solenoid engaging) and can be tapped to start but is not the battery,
starter, or solenoid?

Thanks
Bryan

 Bryan.Wyland@gmail.com wrote:

Hi Bryan...

Sounds like the only things left are the connections at the
starter/solenoid.  Take 'em apart, clean them up with a bit of
sandpaper until they're nice and shiny, and try again.

Take care.

Ken

 
Thanks. That may be it. I cleaned the battery side of the cable,
wasn't real dirty (small amount of rust, 0 corrosion) but the hot side
of the starter end of the cable was pretty rusty. After cleaning, the
first attempt to started clicked once then turned over, and the 3
attempts since have fired off right away. So hopefully that was it,
not just coinicidence, or being "hot". I'll know next time I go to
start it!

Thanks!

 

You might also want to check all the grounds.

 
Guess I need to. When I whent to park it tonight, it took several key
turns & thus clicks to crank, so cleaning the hot helped, but the
ground is much more difficult position to get to, might need to pull
the starter to get to it.