Farmall 100 starter problem?

tired 8n · Mar 30, 2015

I have a 1955 Farmall 100 that use to run just fine. Lately it doesn't run at all because it won't start. I pull on the starter rod and it turns over exactly once around and then goes dead. It won't do anything after trying to start it again. I then take off the battery cables and clean them up and try- again and it turns over once and stops. Is my starter somehow jamming / sticking? It's a 12 volt battery , just about new. The teeth on the ring gear look a little worn but not that bad (I don"t think so anyway. But I'm a greenhorn as a mechanic . I would appreciate some guidance i this matter. Thank you very much.

rustyfarmall · Mar 30, 2015

(quoted from post at 08:14:39 03/30/15) I have a 1955 Farmall 100 that use to run just fine. Lately it doesn't run at all because it won't start. I pull on the starter rod and it turns over exactly once around and then goes dead. It won't do anything after trying to start it again. I then take off the battery cables and clean them up and try- again and it turns over once and stops. Is my starter somehow jamming / sticking? It's a 12 volt battery , just about new. The teeth on the ring gear look a little worn but not that bad (I don"t think so anyway. But I'm a greenhorn as a mechanic . I would appreciate some guidance i this matter. Thank you very much.

Sounds like the battery is not fully charged.

tired 8n · Mar 30, 2015

I get a reading of 12.44 V on my voltmeter

Janicholson · Mar 30, 2015

12.44 volts at no load could be a dead battery. Try ireading the voltage with the lights on. If the volts go down lower than 12.3, that battery charge will not spin the engine. You could also put a white card in front of the lights, and look at the amount of light when trying to crank it. If the lights go out or dim way down, the battery is in need of a charge. The battery cables should be 2gauge to assure good starts. Jim

old · Mar 30, 2015

Take the battery to a parts store and have it load tested. Sounds like it is going bad. I have over the years picked up more then one new battery that was bad from the get go

tired 8n · Mar 30, 2015

I have no lights. (it's an "economy" model ...meaning I'm to cheap to put lights on.....) But I am putting the battery on a charger to see what happens. It would be nice if that were the problem. I usually don't get so lucky. Is it possible that the starter is jammed so that even a good battery won't turn it over?

gene bender · Mar 30, 2015

Go get the starter refreshed cause thats probably why they went to 12v to start with A 100 sure doesent need 12v to start

rustyfarmall · Mar 30, 2015

(quoted from post at 08:57:30 03/30/15) I get a reading of 12.44 V on my voltmeter

A fully charged 12 volt battery should read close to 14 volts.

pete 23 · Mar 30, 2015

Just for kicks and giggles, leave the switch off when you try to start it , or if starter is on switch pull coil wire out of distributor cap and ground it then try. I at one time , repaired a starter on a Farmall 300 for a customer. After the second time he put it back on he and it would not turn engine over, he loaded the tractor on to a trailer and brought it to town to the shop. I never took it off the trailer as when he tried to start it, the engine just went uhhh. I checked timing, set it where it belonged and started fine. Now I am sure you haven't messed with the timing unless you installed new points and they are gapped too wide. Other wise, it could well be a sticking automatic advance that does not retard fully. Just something else for a quick check.

D7fever · Mar 30, 2015

The 100 was a 6 volt tractor from the factory. Have you tried taking the starter off the tractor? Might try that. On my 100 I have had problems with mice getting into the bell housing ( there is a big hole on the underside of the bell housing where they can get in) and making a nest in there. The ring gear picks up some of the nest and goes around and when it gets jammed between the starter drive and the ring gear , the engine stops turning over. I have had to clean mine out a few times. Even had to fix the same problem on a friends Super A. It could be something else of course, but it is worth checking. Good luck.

dewy · Mar 30, 2015

if the battery is weak when the starter engages.it gets stuck.wiggle starter gets unstuck.......dewy...charge battery

Wayne in MN · Mar 30, 2015

Sorry, Rusty; a 12 volt battery fully charged will only read 12.6 volts. If you are on a battery charger or the engine is running then you may see 14-14.7 volts.

kub6040 · Mar 30, 2015

Do you have something.to pull start it , if so that will tell the story if timing advance is sticking it won't run properly , if it starter trouble it will crank and run as normal. Just my nickel.

Owen Aaland · Mar 30, 2015

The state of charge in a 12 volt battery is roughly 12.6 for a fully charged battery to about 12.0 for a fully discharged one. For six volt batteries use 6.3 and 6.0.

FBH44 · Mar 31, 2015

Make sure the battery ground strap bolts DIRECTLY TO the starter mount bolt, directly to the starter steel flange hole. That way you eliminate all tht rusty old frame joints and resistance.

John M · Mar 31, 2015

I was wondering the same thing, and Im still debating Jims 12.3 wont spin the engine over comment below.

mkirsch · Mar 31, 2015

Try all the cheap/free solutions first.

I've even had a battery cable gone completely bad. There was nothing wrong with the ends, but no matter how many times you cleaned them, the tractor still wouldn't start. The problem was somewhere in the middle.

tired 8n · Mar 31, 2015

Thanks to all for suggestions. I will try the above advice that is free to do (Check/charge battery, Pull start, Look inside housing) and then proceed from there. Thanks again!!

LMack · Mar 31, 2015

I would rebuild the starter. Sounds like yours is dragging.

Jim Guarino Agri-Services · Apr 2, 2015

Water in the cylinder could do the same thing. Pull starting with water in the cylinder will break something.
I would take the spark plugs out and try turning it over by hand.
Then try turning it over with the starter.
Agri Services

Farmall 100 starter problem?

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads