Help with 971 wiring problem

sprouticus · Oct 3, 2012

I am working on a 971 for a friend.

I have switched it over to a 12 volt system with a one wire type alternator.

I set it up with the diagram in the link.

Last night I tried it and it seemed to work fine.
Well today I got the gas tank and radiator all set and tried to start it and get it running. I turned the key on and hit the starter button and the starter motor would not stop turning even after I stopped pushing the button, I turned the key off and it still kept turning, so I had to quickly disconnect the battery. So what am I doing wrong?
(Also I eliminated the amp light and used an amp meter instead.)
Thanks in advance.
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Larry NCKS · Oct 3, 2012

diagram looks good, except I'd wire the lights to the B+ side of the terminal block and not the switched side. That has nothing to do with your problem, however.

Three posibilities I can think of. Starter button stuck on or solenoid stuck on or solenoid to starter switch wire shorted to ground somewhere.

Royse · Oct 3, 2012

Sounds like the solenoid stuck.
Check if it has a push button on the bottom of it to manually engage.
If so, you can usually wiggle it and it will release.
I got a cheap one like this from TSC.
It stuck again later, so I ended up replacing it.

awhtx · Oct 3, 2012

Attempting to start an engine with a weak battery will sometimes cause the contacts inside the relay/solenoid to "weld" themselves in the closed position.

sprouticus · Oct 3, 2012

Thanks for all the quick responses.

Everything is new, battery, solenoid, wiring, bat. cables, resistor, key switch, starter switch and all the gauges. (The tractor was a real mess.)
So yesterday it worked fine, hit the starter button and it turned over, when I released the button it stopped. Then today, augh! I wanted to pull my hair out.
I just went out to the shed and tried to reconnect the neg. cable to the battery, to see what would happen. Whoa, a big arc snapped at me, so I guess you were right about the solenoid being stuck.
So I looked at the package the solenoid came in. See the attached image.

CHINA?!

So I dug through my box of extra parts I have accumulated and found a good old U.S.A. made solenoid so I will put that on tomorrow and let you guys know it turns out.
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souNdguy · Oct 4, 2012

ditto what awhtx said.. weak bats can arc weld contacts in a solenoid.

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Help with 971 wiring problem

sprouticus

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Larry NCKS

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Royse

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awhtx

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sprouticus

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souNdguy

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