Starter kept spinning

Bucky · Oct 14, 2008

Yesterday I started my Farmall Super M. As soon as it started I heard a noise and shut it off. The noise continued after I killed the engine. It only took me a few seconds to realize the starter was spinning. I quickly tried to remove a battery terminal (without a wrench handy). While jiggling the battery wires to remove one of them, the starter quit spinning by itself. My assumption is that the starter switch got stuck (somehow). Is this right? Maybe I should just change the switch before the starter is damaged.
-OR- Do what I did on my "H". I put a Ford solenoid on the tractor and used a small push switch for the starting.

Is there any other reason the starter would keep running?

By the way, I have started the tractor at least 10 times since this happened, and this has not occurred again.

rustyfarmall · Oct 14, 2008

Saddle mount starter switch? If so, those are relatively inexpensive.

Bucky · Oct 14, 2008

Rusty
Are you referring to the original switch, or something else? I just called the local dealer and they got the originals for about $15. That"s not bad, but the location being close to the "floor" seems to me, it will get iced during the winter. It has a lever which is also easily stepped on by accident. Plus, when I am parked on a hill, it"s very un-handy to do the brake, the clutch, and that switch all at the same time (I only have 2 feet). I"m not real fond of the setup. I much preferred the push button and solenoid on my H. (One foot on the brake, one foot on the clutch, one hand on the steering, and one hand to push the button.

This is a using tractor, not a showpiece, so I"m not real concerned about keeping it original. Plus, I have never had a solenoid stick like that switch apparently did.

Thanks for the reply.

Bucky

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Please excuse all spelling errors, and by the way it"s only 3 weeks until the Presidential Erection.

mkirsch · Oct 14, 2008

Bucky, that's a VERY common occurrence, especially on larger tractors like the M where starter power requirements are high.

If you think about it, there's a reason that they don't use those buttons to start engines anymore, and now use solenoids...

The switches just aren't capable of handling the high current requirements, and you can't push them fast enough to keep them from sparking. What happens is the contacts get burned to where the switch won't work anymore, or the contacts weld themselves together like they did for you.

Janicholson · Oct 14, 2008

Ford style solenoids are cheap, reliable and easy, Do it, JimN

John M · Oct 14, 2008

You dont have a lock on the brake pedals?

Andy Motteberg · Oct 14, 2008

Sounds like a bad switch. Replace it and see what happens.

Starter kept spinning

Bucky

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rustyfarmall

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Bucky

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