Ford 860 solenoid just clicking

Joeinmissouri · Mar 11, 2018

I thought I had a basic understanding of the electrical system on my Ford 860, but I guess I don't. After the tractor was running for while, I turned it off for a few minutes. When I went to start it again, nothing. Wouldn't turn over. The solenoid just clicks and it will click when I push the starter button regardless of whether the ignition key is on or off. The multimeter shows 12.4 volts on the battery. When I went to check continuity between the two posts on the solenoid, the multimeter beeps whenever the button is pushed regardless of whether the ignition key is on or off. I tried bypassing the solenoid by putting a jumper cable between the positive post on the battery and the starter post, and it just shot sparks. Any ideas on what's gone wrong?
Thanks. Joe

Bob · Mar 11, 2018

Is it possible the starter drive is jammed against the ring gear?

(Ignition "off"), vigorously manually rock the tractor back and forth in the highest gear and note if the cooling fan rotates, even a bit. (Having a hefty buddy or two is helpful.)

Or, loosen the stater mounting bolts and note if the starter can be wiggled around on the bolts.

Joeinmissouri · Mar 11, 2018

(quoted from post at 16:34:11 03/11/18) Is it possible the starter drive is jammed against the ring gear?

(Ignition "off"), vigorously manually rock the tractor back and forth in the highest gear and note if the cooling fan rotates, even a bit. (Having a hefty buddy or two is helpful.)

Or, loosen the stater mounting bolts and note if the starter can be wiggled around on the bolts.

Thanks, Bob. I thought about the starter being jammed, but I haven't tried this yet. Will give it a try. Thanks.

souNdguy · Mar 13, 2018

put a volt meter across the battery and hit the start button. does the voltage nose dive and drop 2v or more ( 6v ), or 4v or
more ( 12 v )? does it take a good hit and drop 1.5v ( 6v ) or 3v ( 12v ) ?

Joeinmissouri · Mar 13, 2018

(quoted from post at 11:05:29 03/13/18) put a volt meter across the battery and hit the start button. does the voltage nose dive and drop 2v or more ( 6v ), or 4v or
more ( 12 v )? does it take a good hit and drop 1.5v ( 6v ) or 3v ( 12v ) ?

Good question. I will give it a try, but I won't get to it till the weekend and let you know. It's a 12v battery. Thanks, Joe

Joeinmissouri · Mar 16, 2018

(quoted from post at 16:34:11 03/11/18) Is it possible the starter drive is jammed against the ring gear?

(Ignition "off"), vigorously manually rock the tractor back and forth in the highest gear and note if the cooling fan rotates, even a bit. (Having a hefty buddy or two is helpful.)

Or, loosen the stater mounting bolts and note if the starter can be wiggled around on the bolts.

Well, I wasn't able to rock the tractor by myself, so I hooked a winch up to the tractor drawbar and rocked it in gear. The first time I pushed the starter button, it sounded like it turned over just 1/2 turn or so and quit. After more rocking, I pulled the started and the gear had been broken off. The guy who rebuilt it told me
when over the gear on the starter breaks off (broken starter housing), it's due to engine backfire or "kickback." The cause of kickback is usually back timing or valve adjustment. I'm not convinced the engine is out of time and think I might have broken the housing in rocking back and forth in gear if the stater was stuck in position. At any rate, I'm now nervous about putting the rebuilt starter back in place until I've checked the timing. Funny thing is, the tractor had been running just fine before.

Joeinmissouri · Mar 17, 2018

(quoted from post at 08:53:39 03/16/18)

(quoted from post at 16:34:11 03/11/18) Is it possible the starter drive is jammed against the ring gear?

(Ignition "off"), vigorously manually rock the tractor back and forth in the highest gear and note if the cooling fan rotates, even a bit. (Having a hefty buddy or two is helpful.)

Or, loosen the stater mounting bolts and note if the starter can be wiggled around on the bolts.

Click to expand...

Well, I wasn't able to rock the tractor by myself, so I hooked a winch up to the tractor drawbar and rocked it in gear. The first time I pushed the starter button, it sounded like it turned over just 1/2 turn or so and quit. After more rocking, I pulled the started and the gear had been broken off. The guy who rebuilt it told me
when over the gear on the starter breaks off (broken starter housing), it's due to engine backfire or "kickback." The cause of kickback is usually back timing or valve adjustment. I'm not convinced the engine is out of time and think I might have broken the housing in rocking back and forth in gear if the stater was stuck in position. At any rate, I'm now nervous about putting the rebuilt starter back in place until I've checked the timing. Funny thing is, the tractor had been running just fine before.

Final Conclusion: Today, Saturday, March 17, I installed the rebuild starter and the tractor started right up. I believe the starter must have initially got stuck, and my rocking it by pulling it back and forth broke the starter gear. I had it rebuilt, installed it, and it works fine again. Thanks for all the help. Joe

Bob · Mar 18, 2018

(quoted from post at 19:41:43 03/17/18)

(quoted from post at 08:53:39 03/16/18)

(quoted from post at 16:34:11 03/11/18) Is it possible the starter drive is jammed against the ring gear?

(Ignition "off"), vigorously manually rock the tractor back and forth in the highest gear and note if the cooling fan rotates, even a bit. (Having a hefty buddy or two is helpful.)

Or, loosen the stater mounting bolts and note if the starter can be wiggled around on the bolts.

Click to expand...

Well, I wasn't able to rock the tractor by myself, so I hooked a winch up to the tractor drawbar and rocked it in gear. The first time I pushed the starter button, it sounded like it turned over just 1/2 turn or so and quit. After more rocking, I pulled the started and the gear had been broken off. The guy who rebuilt it told me
when over the gear on the starter breaks off (broken starter housing), it's due to engine backfire or "kickback." The cause of kickback is usually back timing or valve adjustment. I'm not convinced the engine is out of time and think I might have broken the housing in rocking back and forth in gear if the stater was stuck in position. At any rate, I'm now nervous about putting the rebuilt starter back in place until I've checked the timing. Funny thing is, the tractor had been running just fine before.

Click to expand...

Final Conclusion: Today, Saturday, March 17, I installed the rebuild starter and the tractor started right up. I believe the starter must have initially got stuck, and my rocking it by pulling it back and forth broke the starter gear. I had it rebuilt, installed it, and it works fine again. Thanks for all the help. Joe

THANKS for letting us know what it took to fix it!

Ford 860 solenoid just clicking

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