TO20 clicks when starting. Replaced EVERYThING! HELP!

John in S GA

New User
In Feb of 2016 I went to start my TO 20 tractor that I bought in early 2015 and it just clicked. (I had used it off and on all during 2015) Bought a new battery and cables. Clicks. Bought a new starter online from Tractor Supply and it worked a few days and then clicks. Ordered (from this site) new plugs, plug wires, condenser, points, distributor cap, coil, and solenoid and had professional install. Clicks. Carried to an electrical and battery shop and they installed one of their starters, brought it home and it worked for a week or so and then click. The place came out and put another starter on and it worked a few days and now it clicks.

Everything that I can think of has been replaced. I can't even get the electrical place back out to work on it. I think they gave up on it. They believe that somehow it is losing a ground. I'm not mechanically inclined so I am at a loss.
 
sounds like you're getting bad starters. The starter grounds through the frame unless you have ran the ground wire directly to the starter mounting bolt. If there is a bunch of paint on the starter it may not ground. You will need to make sure all electrical contacts are clean. If it has the starter switch on the gear shift that can be problematic also. I have jumped across mine with a screwdriver but you HAVE to be sure it's in neutral or you will run over yourself. Help this helps.
 
Click. Been there done click. Paint on the starter mounting surface. I scraped mine to bare metal
and a light coat of grease. That tends to stop rust. TE-20 I know runs the main ground behind the
dash panel. Does your TO-20 have a large ground behind the dash still or has it been upgraded?
Ground wire at the block is also scrapped clean and rust free?
How about that battery? Yeah. It looks clean or my favorite, "I just installed it."
If you did not scrape the post and terminals before the battery was installed that is a very good
place to start.
Looks don't work.
click.
Time for dinner. Gotta run.
 
Can you tell where the click is coming from? You mention a solenoid, there shouldn't be a solenoid on that tractor. The starter should connect directly to the starter contactor by the shifter.

You'll need to get a test light and do some diagnostics. Start at the starter. While holding the starter switch, check for power between the starter post and a bare metal ground on the starter case. If there is power there, and the starter is not trying to turn the engine, there is a problem with the starter. If no power there, start working your way back toward the battery, checking each connection under load (while holding the starter switch).
 
You have not mentioned what voltage it is. If it has been converted to 12 volt with a 6 volt starter cranking on the starter for more than a few seconds (3-5) will fry the 6 volt starter. Been there, done that. That hybrid conversion also has its own set of challenges that need to be checked. Others here are more qualified to explain if that is your situation.
 
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A nice thick cable directly to the starter is better than relying on a dodgy earth path through the steering box and dash .
 

Went out and, even though they looked good, used a wire brush on battery posts and cables. Still clicks.
My TO 20 has been converted to a 12 volt and has a 12V starter.

Hard to imagine that 3 new starters from different places would show the same symptom and be bad. Not saying it can't happen but.

Mine also has a solenoid. Sounds like the clicking is coming from the solenoid.
Also has an ignition switch that I failed to mentioned I also replaced new.

Starter and tractor has been scraped free of any paint, rust, etc.
Ground wire connected to starter and solenoid.
 
Everything that has anything to do with electrical has been replaced including solenoid.
We have tried jumping acros and does not work.

Another interesting thing is when I carried the starters to the electrical place he would put it in a vise and hook up a ground, tap with power, and it would work.
Somewhere it is losing ground bit I'm at a loss.


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maybe needs battery cables? Did you check the gears on your flywheel. Bendix drive just went out on mine. It would engage but wouldn't turn engine over. Just made a grinding noise on tractor but spun good out of tractor.
 
Ground your battery to the starter directly. Use a star-toothed lockwasher on both sides of the battery cable - this'll get the starter bolt to bite into both the battery cable and the starter casting ensuring a good ground.
 
It's easy to test the starter. It's 12 volts, right? So pull your car or truck with good battery alongside and hook good jumper
cables to the battery on the car or truck and one side to top bolt on starter and touch other side to a good ground on the
tractor, with tractor OUT of gear, of course. If starter does not work then, it is the starter (or flywheel). Nothing else in
the system to stop it from working. If it does work, you can back up the line to each component one by one.
 
Mine kept breaking the nose cones off the starter. I needed it and didn't have time to figure it out so I made a hand crank or parked it on a hill. Worked good except for when I forgot to turn on the gas. Had enough to start but died at bottom of hill so out came the hand crank. Good luck.
 
Don't think this is your starter issue, but in looking at your picture I don't think I have ever seen ignition wires laid out like that. I have always been told to set them up like the one in the picture that Charles posted. They may not be contributing to the starter issue but sooner or later I think they will cause you problems.
 
(quoted from post at 18:50:30 09/06/16) It's easy to test the starter. It's 12 volts, right? So pull your car or truck with good battery alongside and hook good jumper
cables to the battery on the car or truck and one side to top bolt on starter and touch other side to a good ground on the
tractor, with tractor OUT of gear, of course. If starter does not work then, it is the starter (or flywheel). Nothing else in
the system to stop it from working. If it does work, you can back up the line to each component one by one.

I have tried that before but will try again. Are you saying that the flywheel could cause this problem?
Also going to buy some star lock washers which was also recommended.
Also going to buy new battery cables.
If I don't reply to others does not mean that I am not working on their suggestions.
 
You've tried WHAT before? Are you saying you tried hooking directly to starter before? Not sure to which suggestion you are
replying. If so, what happened exactly when you hooked directly to the starter and how did you hook it up?
 

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