TO-20 - Not Turning Over...

Tom Bowman · Jun 11, 2014

I'm getting close to starting the TO-20, and I wanted to crank the engine with the starter motor to make sure there's oil pressure on the gauge, and oil getting to the rocker assembly.

I unhooked the spark plugs so the engine wouldn't fire, turned on the key, pushed the shift lever to start, and...nothing.

I stopped after a couple of tries of 5-10 seconds each. The battery cables felt warm. I checked all the connections, and everything is clean and tight.

I've had the battery sitting on a shelf since May 2013, when I started working on the tractor - could it just be a low/dead battery? (The battery should be good otherwise - I replaced in it the fall of 2012.)

Steve@Advance · Jun 11, 2014

Could very well be a discharged battery. Putting a
charge in it would be the first thing to try. If
the starter cable is heating up, that means "some"
current is making it to the starter. If charging
the battery doesn't help, recheck all the
connections and the grounds, especially if the
engine has fresh paint.

But... Why crank the engine to get oil pressure?
The goal is to have everything set to start, and
get it running, and pumping oil as quickly as
possible. If it has a new cam and lifters, the RPM
needs to come up to at least 1700 RPM and stay up
for 20 to 30 minutes. Just watch to be sure it
gets oil pressure and the rockers oil. Don't be
afraid to let it run!

Bruce(OR) · Jun 12, 2014

Last few cams I broke in were 1500/2000 RPM varying to allow splash oil to get everywhere. 20 minutes run time. I have seen cranking plugs out to get oil pressure up. Then as you crank your cam prelube is getting worn off. Best bet is to prelube the oil pump, fill with water, water, gas and fire it up.

Jason S. · Jun 12, 2014

I would take the starter off and bench test it. Where the starter nose goes into the bellhousing,is that metal to metal or did it get painted? It needs to be metal to metal.

Tom Bowman · Jun 12, 2014

Thanks, Steve and Bruce. I'd read elsewhere on the forum to check for oil pressure/flow, before starting the engine, but I'll just go ahead and fire it up - as soon as I can, that is...

Jason, I painted while the starter was on the engine - could that have messed with the ground?

I brought the battery with me to town today - I'll get it checked/charged, if needed, then investigate further.

And Steve: your answer to Carolina Boy in the Throttle/Governor thread was exactly what I was looking for in a post I made a week or so ago with a similar question - thanks!

Jason S. · Jun 12, 2014

(quoted from post at 14:17:31 06/12/14) Thanks, Steve and Bruce. I'd read elsewhere on the forum to check for oil pressure/flow, before starting the engine, but I'll just go ahead and fire it up - as soon as I can, that is...

Jason, I painted while the starter was on the engine - could that have messed with the ground?

I brought the battery with me to town today - I'll get it checked/charged, if needed, then investigate further.

And Steve: your answer to Carolina Boy in the Throttle/Governor thread was exactly what I was looking for in a post I made a week or so ago with a similar question - thanks!

No that shouldn't have affected it. Where do you have it grounded? The stud on the starter didnt break loose from its connection inside did it? What happens if you touch the stud on the starter with 6 or 12 volts?

Tom Bowman · Jun 12, 2014

Thanks, Jason. I didn't try jumping directly to the starter, so I'll try that tonight. (Out of Gear!)

Also, I just got back from the auto parts store, and the battery is showing low charge. They're going to charge it up today, and I'll try again tonight.

Tom Bowman · Jun 12, 2014

Update: my parts store charged up the battery - back to 660 CCA now, BUT it was at 3XX CCA when I took it in - shouldn't that have been enough? (Forgot to mention - the TO-20 had been converted to 12 volt when I bought it.)

I'll check all the connections again this evening.

Thanks for your help.

Tom Bowman · Jun 12, 2014

As Jason suggested, I applied voltage directly to the starter: nothing but a few sparks - the starter motor didn't try to turn.

It started fine when I parked it a year ago to start work on it, and I didn't touch the starter - what happened?

Jason S. · Jun 13, 2014

(quoted from post at 03:49:39 06/13/14) As Jason suggested, I applied voltage directly to the starter: nothing but a few sparks - the starter motor didn't try to turn.

It started fine when I parked it a year ago to start work on it, and I didn't touch the starter - what happened?

I have seen starters stick from sitting for a while. I would take it off and turn the starter by hand and then reapply the voltage. If it still does nothing I would look at the soldered connection on the inside for the stud.

Tom Bowman · Jun 13, 2014

(quoted from post at 04:01:13 06/13/14)

(quoted from post at 03:49:39 06/13/14) As Jason suggested, I applied voltage directly to the starter: nothing but a few sparks - the starter motor didn't try to turn.

It started fine when I parked it a year ago to start work on it, and I didn't touch the starter - what happened?

Click to expand...

I have seen starters stick from sitting for a while. I would take it off and turn the starter by hand and then reapply the voltage. If it still does nothing I would look at the soldered connection on the inside for the stud.

Jason, I just tried it: the starter turned by hand, off the tractor.

Can I apply voltage while it's off the tractor, or do I need to re-install it?

When I spun it by hand, the Bendix drive extended - how do I get it to retract?

TO-20 - Not Turning Over...

Tom Bowman

Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

Bruce(OR)

Well-known Member

Jason S.

Well-known Member

Tom Bowman

Member

Jason S.

Well-known Member

Tom Bowman

Member

Tom Bowman

Member

Tom Bowman

Member

Jason S.

Well-known Member

Tom Bowman

Member

Similar threads