JD 2040 - Starter / Electrical Issue

[Bergmann]

Hi All,
I welcome your thoughts and expertise with this. I recently replaced my 1979 John Deere 2040 starter. I pulled the Bosch starter out of it and found an off brand starter online for $120 that replaced the Bosch starter. I figured I'd gamble, as the name brand replacement appeared to be over $300.

https://tractorstarters.com/products/brand-9/JohnDeere/model-800/2040

Since I have a loader on the 2040, I needed to drain the coolant and oil, remove the thermostat, dip stick housing, oil filter, and adjust the alternator location to pull the old starter out. It was clear that the starter was seized and needed replacement. I put the new starter in and re-installed the above said parts and put new fluids in it. It fired right up and I was excited about it running again. Upon coming back to the tractor a day later I realized that the lights on the dash were slightly dim, which was odd since the light switch was off, no key was in the ignition, and I have never had an issue with this tractor having a slow drain to the battery or lights not going off from the dash. I am a novice at electrical troublshooting, but have a multi meter and can check continuity, voltage, and amps. I have a service manual and plan to dig into the electrical diagram, but have already found multiple deviations when I replace the ignition switch about 6 months ago between the diagram and the tractor itself.

The batteries were drained and I recharged them and the tractor fired right up again. I am now in need of finding a solution to the batteries being drained and the lights on the dash not turning off. I removed the negative terminals to the batteries in the near term. Do you think it was the new starter that did this? How can I check that this is the case? Do you think it would be more cost effective to now add a disconnect in the line as opposed to buying a name brand starter? Any thoughts are welcomed, thank you in advance. -Tom in Oregon

This post was edited by Bergmann on 12/26/2023 at 11:10 am.

 

[used red MN]

In general when a starter is replaced only connections
that run power to the rest of the tractor are
disconnected and reconnected. All those wires are
intended to have power all the time. I am wondering
how long and where has the machine has sat? Any
possibility that there has been some rodent activity up
under the dash?

 

[matthies]

Since you adjusted the alternator, could you have bumped the wiring on it to cause a feed back to the dash? Just a thought.

 

[wore out]

IMHE, the problem is UNLIKELY to be caused by the new starter itself.

Could be rodent activity (as the other reply suggests) or a wiring, ignition switch or alternator/voltage regulator issue.

Did you disconnect any wires at the alternator when you had to move it and possibly make a wrong connection when you put them back? Or, possibly a wire got pushed around so it is making contact with something else?

 

[Tx Jim]

I suggest to check voltage regulator & alternator for voltage drain. I seriously doubt starter is causing the drain but weirder things have happened

 

[Bergmann]

(quoted from post at 13:32:03 12/26/23) In general when a starter is replaced only connections
that run power to the rest of the tractor are
disconnected and reconnected. All those wires are
intended to have power all the time. I am wondering
how long and where has the machine has sat? Any
possibility that there has been some rodent activity up
under the dash?

Thanks for the reply, used red MN. The machine has been sitting in an enclosed shop for the past 2 months. Before that, it was under a pole shed, exposed to the outdoors. Rodent activity is possible, but it isn't prevalent as we have 4 outdoor cats... I will investigate closer tonight and report back on any progress.

 

[Bergmann]

This post was edited by Bergmann on 12/26/2023 at 02:03 pm.

 

[Bergmann]

Thanks for the reply, matthies, you could be onto something here. I did notice the alternator was vibrating quite bad when running. I removed the bracket holding the alternator to the block, long bolt that the alternator pivots on, and loosened the bolt/nut that slides for belt tension.

 

[Bergmann]

Thanks for the reply, wore out. I was suspecting the solenoid the new starter came with may have been faulty originally. Rodent activity is unlikely, but it is possible, as it's in an enclosed shop with no known rodent activity. I think the wiring at the alternator is the most likely culprit. I will keep the group posted as I investigate. Thanks!

 

[Bergmann]

Thanks Tx Jim, will do! The price was almost too good on the starter... but I think you are right. More to come from this end.