2017 L2501 STARTER direct drive or reduction gear?

Forvols

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Jan 28, 2017
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Hawkins county TN
I have a 2017 L2501/HST do these compact tractors have direct drive or gear reduction starters? I have been fighting intermittent cranking, sluggish cranking no cranking issues for a while. I had also tried the relay install and still have the starting issues. Attempted to start the L2501 2days ago, same cranking issues a few times then got smoke from the starter and case of starter really hot. So I stopped disconnected battery and left it.

34070-16804 -kubota starter part # - Is this a direct drive or reduction gear starter?

after market replacement starter prices range from 80 bucks to 210.

Thanks for the assist
 

GreensvilleJay

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BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
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Anytime you get 'smoke from starter' ,it's bad news.
Query. How old are ALL the 'battery' cables, What condition are they in Ever been wet ?
I suspect one or more are corroded in their 'cores' and this is the reason for your woes. Once an exposed cable get any water on it, the moisture 'wicks' it's way up, inside the strands.

Does your tractor have a separate 'starter solenoid'? My BX23s has +12 from battery direct to starter, so 'solenoid' is internal, others have an external one... +12 battery-->solenoid-->starter. If external, replace it when you replace the cables.

as for type of starter,I checked 1 for sale and it was direct drive. I assume the gear reduction ones spin slower ?,maybe, usually, but not always true ? Space might be a problem. If you buy one, CONFIRM IN WRITING, that if it doesn't FIT, you get 10% of your money back !!! usually 'electrical' items are NO RETURN.
 
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Forvols

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All cables connection have been cleaned reinstalled, cables are original(2017). Tractor has gotten wet, rained on left in field etc at times, battery is 2yrs old(I believe).
 

TheOldHokie

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I have a 2017 L2501/HST do these compact tractors have direct drive or gear reduction starters? I have been fighting intermittent cranking, sluggish cranking no cranking issues for a while. I had also tried the relay install and still have the starting issues. Attempted to start the L2501 2days ago, same cranking issues a few times then got smoke from the starter and case of starter really hot. So I stopped disconnected battery and left it.

34070-16804 -kubota starter part # - Is this a direct drive or reduction gear starter?

after market replacement starter prices range from 80 bucks to 210.

Thanks for the assist
Reduction gear

Dan

1000001224.jpg
 

Forvols

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Jan 28, 2017
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Hawkins county TN
Thank you, Dan, same diagram I was using. I guess I should have looked up the diagram for a direct drive also I see the differences now. Im going to do more research and testing (soon as it warms up some here).
 
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GreensvilleJay

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BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
11,660
5,044
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
re: 'cables cleaned'...... ANY exposed copper strands at the ends ? If so, replace them unless you can bench test them to verify they can pass 400 amps for 40 seconds, not heat up and not drop the voltage more than 0.5 volts.
 

StephenR

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Feb 12, 2024
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Kentucky
If the cables are original and the tractor has much age on it, it may be time to replace them with new cables that are the next size larger, from 6 gauge to 4 gauge ect., so it will carry more amperage. Since your starter smoked, it will need to be replaced.

Even if the ends are clean there may be some corrosion in the cable that will impede the amperage flow.
 
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North Idaho Wolfman

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On that tractor you shouldn't have to add anything to get it to start properly.
Three parts to look into further:
BAD starter, if you got the original hot enough to feel it, it's junk.
Battery, pull it and have someone load test it.
Battery cables, replace them!
 
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Forvols

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Jan 28, 2017
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Hawkins county TN
On that tractor you shouldn't have to add anything to get it to start properly.
Three parts to look into further:
BAD starter, if you got the original hot enough to feel it, it's junk.
Battery, pull it and have someone load test it.
Battery cables, replace them!
Its was hot enough to feel and was smoking. Past times it also got hot, I think this time I done the starter in. I have had the issue for a good year but it would always start after some attempts. Right now very cold outside so that probably added to the issue I already had.

I think I will replace the battery cables and the starter.
 

claya1

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Kubota
Sep 24, 2021
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sacramento
Its was hot enough to feel and was smoking. Past times it also got hot, I think this time I done the starter in. I have had the issue for a good year but it would always start after some attempts. Right now very cold outside so that probably added to the issue I already had.

I think I will replace the battery cables and the starter.
Motors run on magic smoke. Once the smoke gets out, they are done.

I just replaced mine with a reduction gear starter. Starts way better than it ever did.
 
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