Ford 1910 starter/battery/electrical puzzle

bcompton1 · Jun 16, 2015

Previous thread got too confusing. Reposting here with updated info.

Original problem was believed to be starter issue - replaced starter but tractor still wouldn't turn over. Suspecting battery may be bad, I used jumper cables to help start the tractor. As soon as I connected the cables to the tractor battery the starter began whinning loudly. I felt it and it felt like it was spinning but not engaging the start gear.
Two issues:
1. Why would it start running just by connecting the jumper cables without turning the ignitin key? short somewhere? On the previous thread someone mentioned a stuck solenoid? Where is it and how do I unstick it?
2. If for some reason there is a short giving the starter power, why would it whine and spin but not engage?

mhb@ufe · Jun 16, 2015

(quoted from post at 17:12:29 06/16/15) Previous thread got too confusing. Reposting here with updated info.

Original problem was believed to be starter issue - replaced starter but tractor still wouldn't turn over. Suspecting battery may be bad, I used jumper cables to help start the tractor. As soon as I connected the cables to the tractor battery the starter began whinning loudly. I felt it and it felt like it was spinning but not engaging the start gear.
Two issues:
1. Why would it start running just by connecting the jumper cables without turning the ignitin key? short somewhere? On the previous thread someone mentioned a stuck solenoid? Where is it and how do I unstick it?
2. If for some reason there is a short giving the starter power, why would it whine and spin but not engage?

Disconnect all the wires from the starter and hook the jumper cables direct to the starter. If the starter spins with just the jumper cables there is a problem with the solenoid which is on the starter. If it doesn't spin then you can use a small jumper wire from the positive cable to the small terminal and see if it engages and turns the engine over.

Mark

Bern · Jun 16, 2015

Sounds to me like the starter got mis-wired. More specifically, I suspect that somehow the positive battery cable got attached to the motor terminal on the starter solenoid.

On your solenoid you should have two big posts. The one closest to the motor should only have one terminal attached to it, and that is the wire going down into the motor. The other large terminal above it is for the battery positive wire.

If I'm correct in my diagnosis here, then that would explain what you are seeing. The reason it is spinning and not engaging the engine is because the motor is turning, but the solenoid plunger is not engaging the flywheel.

RickB · Jun 16, 2015

If the OP is jumping directly to the starter terminal or solenoid output post, the result will be a motoring starter without starter gear engagement with the flywheel ring gear. Jump to the battery positive post or the upper large post on the solenoid. Check for power at the small trigger wire at the solenoid with key in crank position and shifters in neutral.

Ford 1910 starter/battery/electrical puzzle

bcompton1

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mhb@ufe

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Bern

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RickB

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