We have a 1976 4230. The tractor looks brand new and runs great...once you get it started. It has been slow to start ever since we bought it several years ago, but it is getting worse. It used to only be hard to start during cold weather. Now it is hard to get it running without giving it a shot of ether even when it is warm. It almost seems like the starter doesn't spin the engine fast enough or something. I recently replaced the batteries which did no good, so I had the starter rebuilt thinking it was the problem, but that did no good either. One of my neighbors who was a JD mechanic back in the 70s and 80s told me the Delco Remy starter on my tractor is the problem, and said I should chunk it on the junk pile and get a John Deere (Nippon mfg.) to replace it. Another farmer I talked to said he had a 4040 that did the same thing after it was overhauled because the new head gasket was thicker and reduced compression. He said he had several thousandths milled off of the head and it solved the problem. My tractor is equipped with the M&W turbo kit, and has about 2500 hours on a dealer overhaul. We also have a 4440 and have never had ANY problem with it starting, she fires up every time you hit the key even when it is below freezing. Anyone got any ideas?
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