Model 40 crawler will not start

[odinrp]

I recently purchased a JD model 40 crawler. It worked fime for the first week, but then... I turned it off and it will not turn over any more. I cleaned and tightened the battery terminals and check the charge. OK.
I checked electrical current to starter motor OK. However, when I putt the starter lever I get nothing. Do I asume it is the starter motor or is ther a way to verify that this is the issue and it is not some easy fix electrical problem. In the past it always started first pull on the starter so this seems like an electrical issue rather than mechanical but I do not know how to short it to see if the starter turns over.
Thanks for help!
Odinrp

[Lavoy]

Most likely it is the starter switch itself, but check cables to be sure.
Lavoy

[Gil]

I am not certain if the JD40 has the same setup as the JD440 but I assume that it may. If it does, the starter rod is attached to a lever in a small housing bolted to the starter. Inside that housing are thick copper plates that wedge together to form a solid mechanical contact when the rod is pulled. The housing can be easily taken off and you can aggressively file the contact areas of the copper plates and the round contact on the starter.

The round contact is also the place that you can try jumping the starter, but it is easier to just clean or replace the contacts (they are cheap). Lavoy probably has them or Tractor Supply.

If that is not your problem, you may have a flat spot on your starter. Try mechanically turning it over a tooth or two and see if that helps.

You said you cleaned the battery terminals. If these are the aftermarket bolt-on type terminals, I would strongly recommend removing the electrical cable. Wire brush the copper wires in the cable and brush the terminals. Reassemble with some dielectric grease or battery corrosion resistant spray.