1950 Ferguson TEA 20

I'm a Ferguson newbe. This tractor won't turn over. That is, their is no current getting to the starter. The tractor is in remarkable condition and not kept out in the rain. It typically has the shift stick starter set up and an ignition key that seems to turn left or right. I was able to check out all the components along the ignition route using an ohm meter for continuity and also a bulb tester and all seems to be o.k.? I used a screw driver across the two poled switch, which I assume is an ignition switch to engage the starter, after replacing the dried up battery with a newer, fully charged up one. This did turn the starter, albeit slowly and I did not let it turn much as I was concerned I could damage the system. I'm also wondering about the tractor having a 12 volt battery system? Was this stock for this model year, or converted and is the battery supposed to be neg. or poss. to ground? I'm thinking that something could be amiss with the shift stick not making contact internally,or the ignition contacts below on the switch, are not connected? But I did get continuity here? I thought I read some info from another story regarding the same starting issue and that the author claimed to fix this problem, you have to slide the shift stick over to the marked S position and lift the stick up then forward? Their is no problem with the Stick going into any of the gears here. I realize i'm writing a novel here, but just need to cover my tracks? Any Ferguson pro's out there have any answers to all my points? cheers, Lawrence, S.S.Isl.,B.C. Ahhhh, the rain has arrived.

There are many possible problems:

I had to check all possibilities on my TEA-20 S # 182991. The PROBLEM was the CONTACTOR (ITEM # 22) had to be removed and CLEANED with Emery Cloth.

Same on my now parts Tractor S # 251562

NOTE:

Items # 25,24,31 ARE NOT to be allowed to FALL into CAVITY below them.....

Bob..

(quoted from post at 09:07:57 10/08/16) There are many possible problems:

I had to check all possibilities on my TEA-20 S # 182991. The PROBLEM was the CONTACTOR (ITEM # 22) had to be removed and CLEANED with Emery Cloth.

Same on my now parts Tractor S # 251562

NOTE:

Items # 25,24,31 ARE NOT to be allowed to FALL into CAVITY below them.....

Bob..

Click to expand...

:?: Hi bob. Thank you for input and pics. I can't fully see from the second picture of the parts diagram as you have it partially covered by a piece of paper? could you resend? cheers, Lawrence.

Hi Bob. With the 12 volt conversion here from 6 volt, is the positive side of the battery now ment to be grounded. I'm wondering if I have the battery terminal cables backwards? When I took the battery out for replacement, I did not take notice as to how they where connected? Perhaps this is why the ignition won't work. I just thought,12 volt battery=normal neg to ground, pos to hot? Your advise appreciated.

When these tractors were new when you moved the shifter to the right there was a small bump you sometimes had to lift the shifter up & over to get it to go to the right a tiny amount more and then you could use Reverse or Start. Most of these bumps after all these years have been worn down so not usually a problem now. However there could be a couple out there that still have this little bump in place.

The PHOTO I posted with the area WHITED out, is that way as the PHOTO is of a T0-30 / T0-20 Schematic.

The MECHANICAL operation of my TEA-20 is the same parts and operation as the TO30/TO20 BELOW the WHITED out area.

My TEA-20 PARTS manual does NOT SHOW the required parts below the STATING CONTACTOR.

If you were to VIEW the COMPONETS of the TO 30 / TO 20 hidden beneath the whited out area, it may lead you down the WRONG path.

Bob...

If your Tractor is still original I would wire it as per below:

The coil to distributor (connecting wire)is the "earth" side of the coil, whilst the coil to ignition switch is the "live" side of the coil.

If your TEA 20 is 12 Volt,positive ground and or 6 Volt positive ground (as my TEA-20 is) (the way they came from the factory):

The positive (+) side of the coil goes to the distributor.

The negative (-) side of the coil goes to the ignition switch.

Positive lead from battery is GROUND/EARTH..........Factory Original:

CHECK the IGNITION COIL to verify, is the + side of the COIL CONNECTED to the DISTRIBUTOR or is the - side of the Coil connected to the COIL?

On my TEA 20 the COIL is marked "SW"...this is the same as -:


The other connection is marked "CB"...this is the same as +:

Hi and thanks Bob. When the 6 volt system gets swapped out for the 12 volt system, ( question ) is the battery positive post connected to the tractors ground or the other way around? When I took the batt. out for charging, I was not aware the system had been changed to 12 volt and thus just hooked the battery up to normal position, neg. side to ground. The battery did not get charged due to my fault. I know now that when it was all 6 volt stock, the pos. was grounded.With an alternator in place, I believe the neg. is ground. Just need to know that it will get connected properly right now. A fresh batt. will certainly tell me if it will crank over, or, i'm still stuck with some other starting issue? Cheers, Lawrence.

Hi Bob. I don't own this tractor yet. Its a Ferguson, serial tag reads TE 121219, very faded. That makes it a 1950, correct? That would mean, stock it came with 6 volt and a gen. Gen. has been replaced with an alternator, and ceramic resister. When I pulled the batt. for inspection, it turned out to be very low of fluid and it turns out to be 2005. I want to place a fresh batt. back into it, but did not take note to how the batt. cables were connected just don't want to damage anything now by perhaps crossing the cables here? The owners over charged the batt. and boiled it low. The tractor apparently started fine before the batt. died. Your input. cheers.

CHECK the IGNITION COIL to verify, is the + side of the COIL CONNECTED to the DISTRIBUTOR or is the - side of the Coil connected to the COIL?

On my TEA 20 the COIL is marked "SW"...this is the same as -:


The other connection is marked "CB"...this is the same as +:



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The TE20 has a nasty earth strap from the battery to the rear of the dash , this often corrodes badly at the joint . This path to the starter is fraught with places that cause high resistance . The best option is to fit a new fat cable directly to the starter.

Photos went haywire ! Yellow cable replaces the original earth strap , note my tractor is still positive earth . The starter switch shows failure of the newly supplied replacements , try to repair the one you have first , if it is an original it will be far better made than any replacement .

Check coil. If -ve connected to distributor its -ve gnd, if =ve connected to distributor its +ve gnd.

IF not tuning with a new battery, start may need a tap to free it up or rock the tractor in top 4th gear.

Process of illimination

Illiminate the starter swtch, if its casuing issues at present.

Check you have a good gnd.

Are you getting a spark accross the points or 12v at coil.

If not work backwards, remove on/off swtch.

Check coil for correct resistance.