AC WD45

Had my WD45 out side about two weeks back getting aired off after being machine shed for the last six months. Started right up and ran. Put back in machine shed, decided to start this week to let it run a little bit and would not turn over or even buzz. Figured the battery was dead so recharged it. No grunts when I hit the starter. Decided to try a different battery. Still nothing. It has a push button start so I figure either the push button has suddenly gone bad or the starter has gone bad. Any suggestions?

Do you have a hand crank? Try rolling it over by hand. Also pull the starter and make sure everything is polished clean. Doesn't take much rust to keep from having a good ground through the starter.
AaronSEIA

I think your gas 45 has the same starter set up as my diesel 45. You pull on the rod and it closes the switch on the top of the starter?

I would start by making sure you are getting power to the starter.

If you are. I'm betting the switch is not contacting the starter.

You may need to take the switch off the starter and file the mounting holes slotted with a chain saw file. Slide the switch towards the back of the starter. This will narrow the gap between the starter contact and the contact on the switch.

This is a common problem on JD 620's. It's not that the new switch is bad. The copper contact on the starter is burnt off and is not as thick as it was originally.

Could be a number of things wrong

#1 bendex locked in the ring gear locking it up so it cannot turn over. Pull start to and put back in if that is what is wrong.

#2 starter switch is bad or dirty so pull it off and clean the contacts. While you have it off take the battery cable going to the switch off the switch and touch it to the starter contact and see if the starter spins over. If it doesn't spin the engine over then your starter has gone bad or you have a poor connection some place

You state " so I figure either the push button has suddenly gone bad or the starter has gone bad"

I would suspect the push button as the cause moreso then the starter.

TROUBLESHOOTING

1) The FIRST thing I would do is remove, clean and wire brush, and re attach each and every battery and starter and starter switch and ground connection then try it????????? There could be a bad ground or a bad cable or connection!!!!

SURE THE BATTERY IS GOOD AND FULL CHARGED??????? A shop can load test it for free

2) Next use a hand crank or pull it or rock the wheels in high gear or loosen the starter etc to insure the starter drive gear isn't mechanically stuck/jammed into the ring gear??????????

3) If you put a test light or voltmeter on the battery and push the start switch if the light dims way down and the voltage drops drastically, there's a chance the starter is mechanically stuck jammed as above, or the starter is bad/shorted but the switch must be okay in that case.

4) If the battery is good and all cables and connections and ground are good and the starters not stuck, but there's no voltage drop or light dimming when the starter switch is depressed, THE START SWITCH CONTACTS (or starter post) MAY BE BADLY WORN AND PITTED AND BURNED.

5) With good tight attached jumper cables you could jump around the switch direct to the starter to see if it cranks and if so but NOT using the switch and theres good power TO the switches input, again the switch may be bad.

6) I have had some starter switches act that way and if removed and the copper contactor and the copper starter post is cleaned and wire brushed maybe filed down a bit they can be cured.

7) Get a voltmeter and check voltage to the switch and starter when switch is engaged.

Nuff said for now, try this and post back, check cables and connections and grounds first.............

John T