My 129 hydrostat often screeches loudly when starting
 

Hi,

Lately, when it tries to start - there is this really loud screech, often accompanied by the engine not wanting to start as fast. I am wondering if this could be a battery / charging problem. I had started it many times today since I was switching around the snowplow to the mowing deck, but then later in the afternoon is when it began starting hard, and then it cranked really slowly. I put on the battery charger and found that it didn't seem to be holding a charge. When I'd turn on the key (but not tried to crank the engine) the gauge on the battery charger went way up - turn the key off and it came back down. So, I started the engine and ran it for quite awhile. That seemed to impart a more lasting charge to the battery. Do you think I should get a new battery and see if that eliminates the screeching issue? The engine sounds fine - but I wonder if it could also be a belt problem - it seems tight enough.

Thanks,
Keith

You might have a starter/generator going bad on you. I am not too good with these, so am hoping some of the other guys more knowledgeable will chime in.

Not being there it is difficult to tell exactly what is going on, however it kinda sounds like you may have a bearing/bushing going bad in the S/G.

Take the belt loose and turn the S/G by hand and see if it appears to have a "drag" to it, might also try spinning the S/G with the key while the belt is off.

Tight or not, the belt could also be worn to the point that it is not gripping the pulleys as it should.

The pulley on the S/G may be loose on the shaft and/or the key (if there is one) could be sheared and the shaft is spinning inside the pulley.

Just some issues that I have seen before...

Thanks for the replies. This morning the battery won't even start the engine. So I at least have confirmed that there is a problem there. I'll replace the battery first, but will also check the S/G to see if it turns freely. I don't notice anything unusual when I just turn it by hand with the belt on. Probably a new belt would be a good idea also. It's certainly old.

Keith

Had the battery tested today - fully charged and cranking. I guess the next step is to take the belt off and see what is going on with the S/G. Any other ideas let me know. It cranks really slowly - just like when the batter is low.

This link may help you trouble shoot the S/G charging issue.

http://www.onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=18

I'm going to try a new battery. Despite what the auto store's gauges showed - that the battery is ok, when I hook it up to the tractor it sounds just like it does not have enough power to turn over the engine. That's what my charger shows too. It runs way down after a few attempts. S/G sounds fine - I took off the belt and it seems to be working fine. Retightened the belt - no more screeching noises. My tractor repair person can't think of anything else short of issues inside the S/G. I'll try the battery first.

I'll be the first to admit the parts stores battery testers suck, LOL. They showed the battery in my wifes car as being fine. Not! Bought a new battery, no more issues.

OK....so I wasted money buying a new battery - that wasn't the problem. When I crank it, it just turns really slowly - sort of in random spurts - sometimes a bit faster, sometimes slower. I had the brake pedal in the lock position while trying to crank so that I could look around at the front of the engine and see the pulleys, etc. Was just about to give up - and then decided to sit on the seat and try it. After releasing the brake and moving the transmission shift lever around a bit - it actually seemed locked in place even though I believe by then I had released the brake - not sure. Anyway, it fired right up. I shut it off and tried is several more times - starts fine and runs fine. So....what is going on? Before it started these past few times, I was really beginning to think that there was something wrong inside the engine that was causing it to not want to turn easily.

Could this apparently intermittent starting problem still be related to the starter / generator somehow? Is it possible that sometimes the S/G is just not developing enough power to turn the engine fast enough?

Thanks,
Keith

Sounds like you need to check your hydro neutral setting

http://cubfaq.com/neutraladjust.html