L3200 RAT-TAT-TAT noise, starts intermittently

[Atlanta Panther]

So yesterday I'm going along cutting my pasture when I take a break to go to the bathroom. When I get back 10 minutes later and go to start the tractor I get a RAT-TAT-TAT noise and it won't start. I tried this about 10 times. Occasionally I got a second or so of normal start sound but it very quickly went to the RAT-TAT-TAT sound so I left it in the pasture and did some other chores. About two hours later I went back to the tractor and got the same RAT-TAT-TAT sound on the first turn of the key. On the second try though it started right up and I went ahead and finished cutting the pasture because I was afraid if I shut it down again it wouldn't start.

So all you experts out there, what do you think my problem might be? I'm thinking the starter is probably going bad but before I start swapping expensive parts out I'd check the thoughts of all of you. Let me add that it seems like the battery is fine but I will check on that again.

 

[RCW]

Just so it's clear - -

Is the engine NOT turning over/cranking when you get that sound, or is it cranking but not starting?

 

[Atlanta Panther]

Just so it's clear - -

Is the engine NOT turning over/cranking when you get that sound, or is it cranking but not starting?

Its not turning over except once in a while where it seems as though it wants to turn over for a brief second then goes back to the RAT-TAT-TAT noise.

 

[JasonW]

Could be a bad/old battery or loose/corroded battery connections. Simple stuff first. How old is the battery? Connections clean and tight?

 

[RCW]

Could be a bad/old battery or loose/corroded battery connections. Simple stuff first. How old is the battery? Connections clean and tight?

Yeah - if it’s not turning over I meant to add have the battery load tested and check connections just to rule those issues out at the outset.

 

[kelly504]

Your PTO is on

 

[Russell King]

I read this to be the sound the starter makes with a bad battery or a bad connection to the battery or starter.

If possible you can troubleshoot it by using a known good (large CCA) battery and jumping to the battery terminals. If it cranks like normal then it is probably the battery is going out or not charging while tractor is running. If still making noise then connections or cables are bad.

You can also take the battery out and take it to your auto parts store and ask them to load test it.

Before you do much though if you can get it started see what the voltage across the battery terminals is reading at idle and then at high RPM (doesn’t have to be wide open throttle). If it doesn’t increase with RPM then you need to investigate the charging system (alternator and regulator?)

 

[PaulL]

It can mean the starter isn't spinning fast enough, so the gear on the end of the starter isn't engaging with the flywheel. That makes a scratchy kind of rat-tat-tat noise.

What happens is that the starter is normally not engaged with the flywheel. When you turn the key the starter spins, and the gear on the end of the starter flys along the starter shaft till it engages with the flywheel. If the starter isn't spinning fast enough, or sometimes if some other things are wrong, the gear doesn't engage. Then it makes a kind of grinding noise.

 

[D2Cat]

Maybe starter solenoid not getting enough power to kick in the starter. Battery or connections.

 

[Shadetree605]

Bendix on starter is what the noise is. as why its doing it ?..could be a bad starter ?..weak battery ?, worn bendex gear ?. hard to say. load test the battery, if battery is good ?..check all the cables. if those are good ?, then dig into the starter itself.

 

[lugbolt]

wiggle the hst pedal from neutral to forward, then back to reverse (SLOWLY) while holding the key. Does it start somewhere in between? If yes, the HST neutral switch is likely failing.