2240

[Zhaque]

Hey guys:
I have a John Deere 2240 diesel and ran it out of fuel. In the course of trying to get it started, I ran the battery down , so I put it on slow charge and left the battery hooked up. When the battery was charged, I found it wouldn't even crank, not even a click. I tested the voltage on the battery and according to my meter it was 13.2 volts. Any ideas ?

 

[Steve in IL]

Hey guys:
I have a John Deere 2240 diesel and ran it out of fuel. In the course of trying to get it started, I ran the battery down , so I put it on slow charge and left the battery hooked up. When the battery was charged, I found it wouldn't even crank, not even a click. I tested the voltage on the battery and according to my meter it was 13.2 volts. Any ideas ?

My recommendation is to first check/clean/tighten all of the main power cables & connections. Pos & Neg.

You’d think it would click, but who knows. Often the neg strap connection through the sheet metal is an issue. Replacing with a decent cable, directly to main frame helps.

We also replaced the 2 batteries with one Group 31. Much simpler (and cheaper).

 

[JD Dave]

Track the voltage around at things like the key switch and starter, etc. Do you have 13.2 with the charger connected or not. Normally a 12 volt battery at rest will measure about 12.5. If you have full voltage at the battery then you probably have a connection issue or a bad starter solenoid.

 

[Tx Jim]

Ditto on checking/cleaning tightening all 4 battery cable connections. Now would be an excellent time to relocate battery ground cable from battery box to engine block. I also advise you to check operation of neutral start switch located under sheet metal cover under operators seat.

 

[Zhaque]

I cleaned both terminals and still nothing. I'm going to replace the ignition switch first. I took the metal off both sides and found only two wires hooked to the switch red and black, Two red wires hooked to the positive terminal. One going to the switch and the other going to the solenoid. I'm going to replace the switch because the connections are rusty. I'll try that first. Thank you all for replying.

 

[Jim.ME]

I cleaned both terminals and still nothing. I'm going to replace the ignition switch first. I took the metal off both sides and found only two wires hooked to the switch red and black, Two red wires hooked to the positive terminal. One going to the switch and the other going to the solenoid. I'm going to replace the switch because the connections are rusty. I'll try that first. Thank you all for replying.

Did you clean the opposite ends of the battery cables, not just the battery terminals? There is history of tractors using a short ground cable that attaches to the sheet metal inside the battery box losing ground. The best fix is a new cable long enough to go to a bolt on the engine, ideally a starter mounting bolt.

 

[Zhaque]

I'll measure the ground cable and get one long enough the starter bolt. Switch is supposed to be here tomorrow. I'll sure let you guys know how it goes.

 

[Zhaque]

sent the wrong switch

 

[Zhaque]

Went to JD and got a switch, but the terminals aren't the same as the old one, so what goes where ? I assume the BAT goes to the battery, and the black and red wire going to the starter and solenoid go to IGN ? And ACC obviously means accessory ?

 

[Steve in IL]

Went to JD and got a switch, but the terminals aren't the same as the old one, so what goes where ? I assume the BAT goes to the battery, and the black and red wire going to the starter and solenoid go to IGN ? And ACC obviously means accessory ?

Assuming you have the correct serial number info. There are two very different 2240 tractors. 1976-1979 and 1980-1982. Someone here will have the actual S/N break.

 

[Tx Jim]

Serial # break on 2240 for different battery style covers is at 350,000. All 2240's use same ign switch part # AR58126

 

[Zhaque]

Yes, it's the right switch but what wire goes where

 

[Jim.ME]

Yes, it's the right switch but what wire goes where

The picture below from a 2030 Technical Manual (uses the same ignition switch) will tell you the switch terminals, if that is what you need. If you don't know which wire is which, you need 2240 Technical Manual with the wiring diagram to chase them out. I don't have a 2240 manual, but the 2030 manual has some wire color info that helps for a starting point, provided colors are visible and have not been "repaired" over the years. I expect the 2240 manual is similar. A test light and a jumper wire can be used to figure out what each wire does, but that is a hands-on thing you need to do. Be sure the tractor is in neutral or park before applying power to any wires.

 

[Zhaque]

OK I have 3 wires to work with. A red wire coming from the positive battery terminal and two other wires. A red and black wire going to the starter

 

[Jim.ME]

OK I have 3 wires to work with. A red wire coming from the positive battery terminal and two other wires. A red and black wire going to the starter

Guessing your 2240 diesel has a mechanical stop to pull. If it was wired similar to the other JD models of those years, you need a battery power wire, which should come from a circuit breaker on the battery terminal of the switch. You need a wire from the start terminal of the switch to one terminal on the neutral start switch. There should be a separate wire from the second terminal of neutral start switch to the start terminal on the starter solenoid. A third wire likely would go from an accessory terminal of the switch to the indicator lights for the oil and alternator (alternator light circuit would also excite the alternator).

Has this electrical system been worked on (hacked) before? From what you are posting it doesn't sound OEM, if there is a wire from the switch to the starter and a wire from the battery positive to the switch. Colors are no help here; they might be if you had the manual to look at. You are going to have to see where the other end of each of the three wires you have goes. I can tell you where I think they should go, but I can't chase them out to the ends from here.

 

[Zhaque]

From your reply, it sounds like someone has done some "engineering" to the wiring. Oil and alternator lights not hooked up and the headlights and tail light has been removed. This sure is getting frustrating. Guess I'll pull the hood and see where the wires are actually going

 

[Jim.ME]

From your reply, it sounds like someone has done some "engineering" to the wiring. Oil and alternator lights not hooked up and the headlights and tail light has been removed. This sure is getting frustrating. Guess I'll pull the hood and see where the wires are actually going

From this info it is on you to find out where wires go. We can only suggest where they should be, we can't see it to confirm anything. When asking questions, you are going to need to relay what you find clearly and accurately for anyone to help sort this out.

 

[Zhaque]

From this info it is on you to find out where wires go. We can only suggest where they should be, we can't see it to confirm anything. When asking questions, you are going to need to relay what you find clearly and accurately for anyone to help sort this out.

Got it going. Turns out it WAS the ground cable, but after getting it started, I found the fuel pump was leaking, so put on a new fuel pump, then found orings leaking at inj. pump so replaced them too. Starts right up now and no leaks. Now the next question is where to buy lights ?

 

[Steve in IL]

Got it going. Turns out it WAS the ground cable, but after getting it started, I found the fuel pump was leaking, so put on a new fuel pump, then found orings leaking at inj. pump so replaced them too. Starts right up now and no leaks. Now the next question is where to buy lights ?

Glad you got it going. You might want to start a new thread about your lights. Personally, I’d look around a local tractor scrap yard. The lights on a 2240 are the same for a lot of Deere tractors of that era, so finding parts that match shouldn’t be that difficult or expensive.

 

[Tx Jim]

Congratulations on your successful repair. Thank you for updating your thread