Gleaner K's yearly issue

I have yet another issue with my Gleaner K combine, i can't wait for this thing to leave the farm for good!!!! Got in it the other day and was going to pick a acre or two of corn well....when i turned the key switch on nothing lit up, i had another switch so i put it in, still nothing. I ran a wire from the positive battery terminal to the battery post on the new switch and everything lit up, gauges mostly. I tried to start the machine with the new switch installed and it would not do anything, so i went to the back and tried to start it on the starter solenoid, it would turn over fine but would not run, just grind and grind. It is getting fuel ok, i didn't have time to check the plugs due to darkness, I looked at the wires going to the starter solenoid and did not see any that were broke or not attached. This combine started and ran good 2 months ago and now this. I've had this thing since 2014 and every year has been some issue with it, by the way it is the 250 GM gas engine....i think that is the problem in itself!!!

Should i run a new ignition wire to the key switch?? I am not a good gas mechanic, diesels i can work on very well. I just want to pick a small amount of corn with it and after that it can die or hibernate lol If anyone knows of a John Deere 4400 for sale please let me know.

Probably no poker to the coil so no spark

The Chev 6 is about as reliable as engines can be . Make sure mice have not made a home in your electrical system.

Ben

Head scratcher. You already changed the switch, so not likely what was wrong with mine. I had to put a new switch on it. It would only run if I ran a jumper wire from the solenoid to the coil. It would turn over but no power to the coil. What tipped me off to the problem was, it was warmed up, I unhooked the wire and shut it off. I tried to start it again without the jumper wire and just a millisecond after I let off the starter, it started while it was still rolling over.

Are you sure the switch you put on it was good? I'd hook a jumper wire from the solenoid to the coil, then use a test light to see if you have power coming back up the wire to the switch. If not, then yes, replace the wire.

I had to think on that just a little. What was happening with mine was, I had power to the coil when the key was on, but not when the switch was in the start position. I could take the jumper off after it started, but no power when the engine was turning over with the starter.

Get a diesel combine. I fight crap like that every time I get my gas antique combines out. The diesel ones can set for years and they will pop right off.

Have you tried starting fluid or pouring a little gas in the carb? Richard warned me when I bought mine from him that it started real hard after it sat a few weeks. In two weeks I'll have to prime it again to get it started. Apparently it's always been that way.

That's where electric fuel pumps are nice.

Ya, it's just such a pretty little machine that I hate to cobble anything up on it.

I had a M mice seemed to like gleaner wiring better than Deere. Check where wires go thru concealed areas. Mine ran thru a pipe in the grain tank, when I couldn't get any power to the cab went and pulled on the harness half of it came out the back the other pulled out the front, spliced it together outside the grain tank. Sold the m and bought a 4420. Was very happy to see it drive out the yard. The 4420 was bulletproof compared to the gleaner.

Anyone who can make a tractor look as pretty as you do could replace the lift pump with an electric and make it look professional!

I bought a NH TR75 last winter, its a diesel. I am 90% on getting it ready to pick, needed some patch work done and adjust everything. It starts like a dream, not the prettiest thing around but so far it is dependable.

Well this is weird but not surprising. Yesterday i took my spark checker with me to see if any of the plugs had spark, they did and the machine came to life, day before it had no spark, while it was running i went ahead and picked some corn with it, I might need to get a preacher to come and pray over it or bless it. Craziest thing i've ever seen!!!