Raise bucket on non running jd 350

[Catenary Kid]

[/img]Troops,

Long time off the list here and I have a rather perplexing problem. I normally prop my front bucket up with a 4" x 6" about 8' off the ground to keep the hydraulic cylinders out of the way in the event I need to work on the engine. Well...last time I parked it, I did not do that. I figured the old girl has always started and always would. So...here we all are - the bucket is on the ground and the crawler (gas) will not start. The arms and cylinders are right in the way of everything I can't even get to the starter. So....

Question #1: Is there a way to raise the bucket like with another loader or backhoe to get to the engine components? I tried lifting it with the bucket on my JD 3720 but that was a non starter. I even worked the levers during the attempt - no luck. I'm certain this has happened before and I'm hoping someone has found a solution they are willing to share.

Question #2: I put a brand new Opti 800 CCA battery in it and when I attempt to start it, I turn the key and hit the button and all I get is a single 'click'. No chatter, no attempt to crank, just one click. I have also attached a 100 amp booster to the battery and tried starting it with that - same deal, one click, that's it. Anyone care to guess at what the deal is?

Question #3: These units have a lever on the port side of the engine which is to disengage the hydraulic pump so you can start it without the resistance from the pump or something. I had a neighbor who is a mechanic come over to give me a hand with it and it wouldn't move so I went in search of a lever to persuade it. When I got back he had taken a metal "T" post and moved it. Now it just flops around with no resistance at all. I don't know if that's good or bad. But with my luck....

Eager to hear any feedback at all.

[Jim B]

Question #1. Your 3720 is not big enough, anyone near you got a full-size loader or TLB?

Do you have an engine driven wood splitter? Run hoses from pressure and return ports of it to the loader valve, instead of the splitter's valve and use the splitter hydraulic system as a power pack to lift the loader. It won't be fast, and you may need to add a bit of oil to the splitter reservoir as the loader raises due to the difference in volume of the two sides of the pistons, but it should not take much more that will be sent to the reservoir from the retract end of the cylinder.

Question #2: It could be one or more of many things. Until you can access the electrical components answers will just be guesses. First thing is clean both ends of all battery cables, then start checking to see if the solenoid is getting power when you turn the key to start.

Question #3: Likely not good, but again until you can get to it the fix might be simple or not.

[Catenary Kid]

Jim,

Wow! Many thanks for the ideas, never thought about the woodsplitter angle. I'm going to give that a try as soon as I get through my surgery. I may also try and find someone with a much larger hydraulic pump, like a house lifting trailer.

It's a little cool for those sort of things here in Michigan right now and I have other priorities, but I will try this stuff and keep you posted! Thing is - I could have sold this thing 3 times over if I could have started it to drive onto a trailer....

Be well and thanks again!

[jimmydiesel]

The bucket and boom can be lifted with the boom lift lever tied back in the lift position. Possibly your other loader wasn't strong enough??
Another option would be to jack it up with a bottle jack or good sized floor jack. The crossmember on the front of the boom is a good place to lift.

When you are able to get to the starter tap on the case with a hammer or long bar Many starters that have sat for a while just need a little tapping. This is not a good idea on newer permanent magnet starters but often does work on older ones
Steve.

[Bobby H.]

one click is a bad connection. clean battery terminals . clean ground cable and make sure you have a good ground. clean positive at starter also. more than likely it will be terminals at battery or battery cables at battery. could have an internal battery issue

[dtoots1]

To me sounds like a wiring issue...these old girls really need good {new} wiring to get the juice! Your little critters love to be around warm engines when parked..make sure you have good new battery cables/grounds etc..course getting to them with loader down is main issue just now...also ned to use steel angle props on the cylinder shafts for safety...i dont trust 4x4 props under the thing...else use comealong or chain hoist fastened to something solid overhead.