Tractor not starting

Calf creek ranch · Sep 1, 2014

Trying to jump a12 volt tractor that has 2 6 volt batteries, the batteries are dead. I am hooking them up to a 12 volt pickup to the tractor starter. The starter is 2 months old. Are the dead batteries on the tractor preventing it from starting or is my engine locked down? Starter just barely turns engine...turn at a tme.

Janicholson · Sep 1, 2014

Knowing what tractor it is is necessary, Giving advice is risky as there are systems with 12v batteries and 24 volt starters and 12v charging systems, 6v systems with batteries in parallel, and 12v systems with 12v batteries in parallel, and 12v systems with 6v batteries in series. The worst is that jumping can cause the dead batteries to explode!! Jim

old · Sep 1, 2014

As Jim says more info so we can help you help your self and also maybe keep you seeing. If it is a 12 volt system using 2 6 volt batteries in series good chance the batteries them self are causing the problem due to being dead so you have to give them time to charge up when your jumping them.
If 2 6 volt batteries in pairral (sp) you got lucky they did not blow up in your face which can cause a guy t go blind from acid burns of the eyes

ken house · Sep 1, 2014

had a car that started good, never a problem. one day i drove it and parked it for a couple hours. it would not even click, when i tried to start it. it would not jump off. replaced battery and it started good.

JRSutton · Sep 1, 2014

Others have pointed out the reasons to be cautious - but, if we assume you know what you're doing with the batteries...

... I have to say that I constantly see people not give much thought to their jumper cables or how well those cables are attached. So I'd start there.

If the dead starter doesn't kick right over - (and you have no reason to believe it's faulty) you're most likely doing something wrong with the cables.

First - if you don't own GOOD HEAVY jumper cables (expensive), throw them in the trash and get good heavy ones. Worth every penny.

Then when connecting the cables - you have to get a REALLY good bite on whatever you're connecting them too - it has to be CLEAN metal to metal contact. No corrosion - wire brush it if need be.

Taking care to do it right makes and ENORMOUS difference on how much cranking power you get to the dead motor.

willie in mn · Sep 1, 2014

How dead are the batteries? Are they DEAD dead, or just WEAK dead? I have seen it happen, but mostly in cold weather, that if DEAD dead the battery will absorb all the juice that the jumper is giving. Sometime just letting it sit 10 minutes or so will let the jumper build a charge into the dead battery, then it would spin right up.
HTH
Willie

teddy52food · Sep 1, 2014

Jumper cables won't carry enough juice unless they are extra heavy ga copper, which most are not.

mkirsch · Sep 2, 2014

The good news: If the engine will turn over, "a turn at a time" it is not locked up.

The bad news: About the biggest thing you can jump straight off jumper cables is a lawnmower. No way you can jump a big tractor with dead-dead batteries. Either charge the batteries or replace them. Jumps only work if the batteries still have some charge in them, and then you sometimes need 2-3 sets of cables to get enough connection.

rhtx55 · Sep 2, 2014

What model tractor are you attempting to start?
I would first disconnect (separate) the batteries, and with a trickle charger charge them low overnight EACH. 6 volts don't seem to like quick charges, or jumping.
Once each has been charged overnight, hook them back up, and see how it spins over then.

Tractor not starting

Calf creek ranch

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Janicholson

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old

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ken house

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teddy52food

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