4020 won't start when cold.

[Herman, MN.]

I have a 4020 that when it gets cold outside, about 10 degrees or somewhere in there, or colder, it doesn't want to start. It does have a block heater, and it does work, the problem is that it doesn't want to even attempt to crank over. If you use a screw driver across the solenoid it fires right off. So far, have replaced the solenoid, along with the starter switch thinking it might be wore out. Bring it in the shop where it is warm and it works fine, but replaced those parts anyways. Sits outside overnight and it has this problem. It's a diesel but don't think this has any bearing on the problem at hand. Any suggestions, or if anyone has run into this problem before, would much appreciate your help. thanks

Joel

P.S. I already posted this on the John Deere forum, but seems like a lot of people on here have a lot of knowledge in general about tractors here.

 

[r geiger(oR)]

Might try running a new wire from switch to the solenoid. Could be a bad wire terminal.

 

[Bob]

Have you checked the neutral safety switch and it's connections?

 

[Den N Ms]

I'm with Bob,The neutral safety switch could be sticking and not completing the circuit when its cold out.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Have you checked the battery cable connections to make sure they are clean and tight. Look especially for corrosion in the cable to battery connection area.

When you start a warm tractor, the current draw isn"t as high as when you start a cold one because there is less load on the starter. If the cable is corroded internally you"ll have a high resistance that can cause your problem.

I agree with what Bob said about the neutral safety switch but if it"s bad, it should not work when it"s warm or cold, unless it"s sticks open in cold conditions.

 

[Charles Krammin]

All 10 thru 50 series JD's, with "Quad-shift", have a "Neutral start switch", under the shift lever. It has a 1/16" piece of steel that a cam on the shift lever "drags over" and wears a slot in it. Sometime when its worn, you can hold the key engaged and "move the shift lever" up and down and it will catch. The switch under the piece of steel and the switch, is cover with rubber. My guess either one or the other or the "switch" are shot. If the rubber is shot it will let water in the switch, and if it "Freezes",
would explain the "cold weather symtoms"
PS the "JD man" that designed the 4020, was fired from "Ford", because He "refused to sell the worse tractor Ford ever built. Ford latter recalled all these series tractors and the 10's thru 5020, became the leader.
Case DC, JD 3010,4010, and Ford from 1939 to 1968
OLe time Charlie

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 11:59:52 12/21/09)
I have a 4020 that when it gets cold outside, about 10 degrees or somewhere in there, or colder, it doesn't want to start. It does have a block heater, and it does work, the problem is that it doesn't want to even attempt to crank over. If you use a screw driver across the solenoid it fires right off. So far, have replaced the solenoid, along with the starter switch thinking it might be wore out. Bring it in the shop where it is warm and it works fine, but replaced those parts anyways. Sits outside overnight and it has this problem. It's a diesel but don't think this has any bearing on the problem at hand. Any suggestions, or if anyone has run into this problem before, would much appreciate your help. thanks

Joel

P.S. I already posted this on the John Deere forum, but seems like a lot of people on here have a lot of knowledge in general about tractors here.

What this tractor has is a common sense sensor.

You will have to by-pass it if you want it to work in those temps.

Below 45*, folks are suppose to have all of their work done, their wood up, and be sittin' sides the heater, sippin' whisky.

 

[Bob]

"All 10 thru 50 series JD's, with "Quad-shift", have a "Neutral start switch", under the shift lever"

Simply put, nnalert!

The 4010 and 3010 are on the order of what you describe, the later tractors have the switch on the main transmission case.

 

[Herman, MN.]

Well this is a work tractor, gets used three times a week minimum in the winter, it has a manure spreader on it and is used to bed the packs for the dairy and also haul pig manure as needed. We all can't sit and sip whiskey.

 

[Herman, MN.]

Thanks for the clarification so I'm not looking for phantom problems that don't exist on this 4020.

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 11:36:08 12/22/09) Well this is a work tractor, gets used three times a week minimum in the winter, [b:f157620dcb]it has a manure spreader on it [/b:f157620dcb]and is used to bed the packs for the dairy and also haul pig manure as needed. We all can't sit and sip whiskey.

Appears that it and I have something in common.