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2005 257B cab controls and starting issue

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
Hey all,

I am brand new to the heavy equipment game. I just purchased this 257b serial number slk02210.
First, is there a place I can find a diagram of what the buttons, toggle switches, joy stick controls, etc do? I know how to start it, use the bucket and drive around but that is it. I don't know what any of the other controls do and I cannot find an operator manual to save my life.

Second, I can't get it to crank over any longer. I'm worried in my naiveté I maybe did something wrong but I have no idea. It started fine when I test drove it and the first day I had it at my home. The temps here have been between the mid teens to mid 30s. I've had it plugged in for about 3 days straight. I cycled the glow plugs for about 60 seconds when it didn't start the first time thinking with it being colder now they need to cycle longer. Then I thought it was the battery and replaced it at Napa. I tried jump starting it off my truck as well. It only revs (not really even a Rev) for 2-3 seconds and then I get the rapid clicking noise and all the instrument panel lights flicker really fast.

I thought maybe the new battery was bad so I took it back to Napa. When they tested it they said it was good but just low and said I should put a charge on it. I charged it back to full and still the same thing. I get 12.8 volts from the battery and at the starter so it doesn't seem I'm losing any voltage at the starter. I don't know how to test the starter itself so I don't know if that's the problem or not.

I also thought maybe the motor was ceized because I ran it for about 2-3 hours and then realized it didn't have coolant in the reservoir but for the 2 seconds that it tries to start the belt and pulleys turn so as far as I know that means it isn't ceized (maybe that is not true?).

As you can probably tell I am not super mechanically inclined so any help would be fantastic. Thank you!
 
Last edited:

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
28,977
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
Unfortunately does not include an O&M Manual even though it claims to have one available.

I would suggest that you get a genuine Cat O&M Manual before you go any further. At least then you will know what all the lights, switches, & controls are supposed to do.
Go to https://catpublications.com/
When the popup appears click on "Continue as Guest"
Type SEBU7732 in the box and click Search. The illustration below should appear. A pdf download is $49........

upload_2021-1-2_15-34-51.png

I'll send you the electrical schematic - you may need it.

Maybe a stupid question but does the fuel gauge work and if it does, have you actually checked if there is actually any fuel in the tank..?
 

02Dmax

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2007
Messages
687
Location
MO
Hey all,

I am brand new to the heavy equipment game. I just purchased this 257b serial number slk02210.
First, is there a place I can find a diagram of what the buttons, toggle switches, joy stick controls, etc do? I know how to start it, use the bucket and drive around but that is it. I don't know what any of the other controls do and I cannot find an operator manual to save my life.

Second, I can't get it to crank over any longer. I'm worried in my naiveté I maybe did something wrong but I have no idea. It started fine when I test drove it and the first day I had it at my home. The temps here have been between the mid teens to mid 30s. I've had it plugged in for about 3 days straight. I cycled the glow plugs for about 60 seconds when it didn't start the first time thinking with it being colder now they need to cycle longer. Then I thought it was the battery and replaced it at Napa. I tried jump starting it off my truck as well. It only revs (not really even a Rev) for 2-3 seconds and then I get the rapid clicking noise and all the instrument panel lights flicker really fast.

I thought maybe the new battery was bad so I took it back to Napa. When they tested it they said it was good but just low and said I should put a charge on it. I charged it back to full and still the same thing. I get 12.8 volts from the battery and at the starter so it doesn't seem I'm losing any voltage at the starter. I don't know how to test the starter itself so I don't know if that's the problem or not.

Not guaranteeing this but several times on those B's I've ran into bad battery cables. If it cranks over then starts rapidly clicking it's highly likely you have low voltage at the STARTER, even if you have perfect voltage at the battery.

I'd recommend grabbing a GOOD set of jumper cables, hook one of the black ended clamps to the negative battery terminal, then hook the other black clamp to a starter mounting bolt if you can. Don't hook the red cable to anything. This will form a second ground circuit. Try that first, my guess is it will fire right up. Let us know.

I also thought maybe the motor was ceized because I ran it for about 2-3 hours and then realized it didn't have coolant in the reservoir but for the 2 seconds that it tries to start the belt and pulleys turn so as far as I know that means it isn't ceized (maybe that is not true?).

As you can probably tell I am not super mechanically inclined so any help would be fantastic. Thank you!
 

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
Nige, thank you for the link. I've paid and downloaded the O&M Manual. That's exactly what I was looking for. The fuel question isn't stupid at all. I actually thought of that after replacing the battery but that didn't fix it. I'll check out the electrical diagram. Thanks again.
 

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
seville009, thank you for the link. I've paid and downloaded the O&M Manual. That's exactly what I was looking for. I'll check out the electrical connections. Thanks again.
 

Spyros33

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 22, 2020
Messages
130
Location
Korinth, Greece
Occupation
Mechanical engineer, machine operator
Sounds like there is a corroded or loose ground and even if you read proper voltage, when trying to start amp draw gets high and connection goes bad
 

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
Thanks Spyros33. I'll see if I can find the grounds and check if they are loose or corroded.
 

02Dmax

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2007
Messages
687
Location
MO
My first response didn't post like I thought. Here you go.

Not guaranteeing this but several times on those B's I've ran into bad battery cables. If it cranks over then starts rapidly clicking it's highly likely you have low voltage at the STARTER, even if you have perfect voltage at the battery.

I'd recommend grabbing a GOOD set of jumper cables, hook one of the black ended clamps to the negative battery terminal, then hook the other black clamp to a starter mounting bolt if you can. Don't hook the red cable to anything. This will form a second ground circuit. Try that first, my guess is it will fire right up. Let us know.
 

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
I'll try that out. Do I need to disconnect the negative cable from the battery before I hook up the jumper cable?
 

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
I took my battery to Napa and had them put a full charge on it just in case my charger was not working correctly. I hooked it back up and primed the fuel line at the filter and had the same thing happen where it acted like it was going to crank and then all the lights started flickering and got the rapid clicking noise again. The only way I finally got this to start was when I shot a little starter fluid into the air intake with it jumped to my truck. Any thoughts?
 

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
Did you try the jumper cable trick?
I did try the cable trick but still the same thing. Acts like it wants to crank for about 2-3 seconds and then all lights flicker rapidly and the rapid clicking noise comes back. I started the machine yesterday with starter fluid. Ran it for an hour. Shut it down for an hour to drive to another job and it started right back up at the next job site. Shut is down and drove an hour back to my house and it started right back up when I unloaded it from the trailer. It seems as long as it's warm it starts up great. Once it gets cold is when it has issues.
 

BJ R.

Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2020
Messages
8
Location
Utah
Have you removed, cleaned, & reassembled every ground cable on the machine (inc the one from the engine block to the chassis)..?

That would be my first suggestion, closely followed by doing the same with all the power cables.
I will give this a try. I hope I can find all of the grounds. Hopefully they are in that electric diagram you gave me. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
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