International 300 Utility Question:Starter won't crank

Jeremy Ingle

New User
I have a 1955/56 300 Utility and the starter won't crank over. I replaced the battery and cables and it still won't turn over. I can hear the solenoid click but the starter won't turn over. My guess is the starter has froze up. All I can find is 6 volt starters for this tractor. Is that the correct one even though it has a 12 volt battery. This may be dumb question but I will ask it anyway.
 
6 volt starter will work just fine with 12 volts; it will spin faster also. Don't crank for extended periods of time.
 
Put it in High Gear, TA ahead, violently rock the tractor back and forth with the rear wheels. This can unlock the starter if it is jammed. Replace the starter drive with a new design (smaller spring better cushion) and be happy. If no result, the starter brushes may be worn out. Jim
 
The 6 volt starter is fine - I have that on my 300U, H and M all with 12 volts. Either your starter is bad or it is locked up against the flywheel. Try turning the motor using the fan - if it moves its not locked. If you can"t move it, back out the starter about an inch and it will free up. Move the flywheel slightly and tighten up the starter. That happens about once per year on all my tractors. It"s what happens when the ring gear starts to get bad along with the starter drive gear. Only long term fix is to replace both.
 
I've had to bump my 300 starter (12v conversion)with a big adjustable wrench when it's cold. After a few hits it fires up.
 
i just had my 300U starter rebuilt by a local auto electric shop for 95 bucks, he replaces all the guts and the thing works great now....if you dont know of a auto electric shop just ask someone at an automotive repair shop in the area and im sure they can recommend one for you...
 

One thing you might want to do if you find your starter is bad... have your "auto-electric" shop install 12V windings in your 6V starter. Your starter can spin so fast the drive won't engage the starter ring and just grind. My 240U was converted to 12V before I bought it and it would usually grind a few times before engaging the gears, and that wore the starter ring in a couple of places. My AE guy said that was because with the 6V windings, it was spinning too fast before engaging. He changed the windings to 12V for an extra $75 when he rebuilt it and now it works great. It also starts faster, I think because the voltage was dropping off too much before, so it had to spin over a few times before firing.... now it starts instantly. It will work with a 6V starter, but work better with 12V.
 
I was trying to start it yesterday and the starter was cranking. As you stated above I was cranking it for a rather extended amount of time. Today it would not crank at all. I take it this may have damaged the started?
 
There were two different type of 12 volt starters used on the 300/350 and 400/450. One used the same field coils as the six volt system and changed the armature, the other used the same armature and changed the field coils. A six volt starter may be converted by either method.
 
It could be a starter problem, but from your description there"s no guarantee that the starter solenoid is working properly -- just because it clicks, that doesn"t necessarily mean it"s connecting the big "in" cable from the battery to the big "out" cable to the starter.

According to the archives, a starter will sometimes lock up. You can release it by loosening the starter mounting bolts, wiggling the starter a little, and re-tightening the bolts.

If that does not work, I would recommend you make sure your battery-to-ground connection is excellent (so you know it can carry the current required by the starter). Then, with the transmission in neutral and the brakes locked, connect the non-grounded battery terminal directly to the starter input with a jumper cable to see if it turns over. If it does, suspect the solenoid or maybe some cable corrosion hidden under the insulation. If it still does not turn over, then it’s a pretty good bet the problem is with the starter.

Mark W. in MI
 

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