A won't crank

Have a 52 A that has always started and ran great. Got on it this spring, hit the starter and nothing. Thought battery was dead, tested it and was fine. Next thought was a bad ground. Cleaned both battery posts and took ground off from frame and shined it up and still have nothing from the starter. I checked and I do have juice to the distibuter when key is on but I have no juice to the lights with key on or off. Whats the next thing I should look for? Thanks in advance for any help

If the ground is hooked to the battery box, your ground is still bad. Try moving it to it's own bolt and see if that helps..

Try using jumper cables from the battery to the starter. Just one cable as in to the big stud on the starter. If it spins over that way your ground is good but you have a problem from the starter back. If it does not spin over then the ground is still bad

Based on the information above, lets presume that the battery and ground are good and not the problem.

You might consider removing the starter opening cover located under the main case.



Check for power from the battery cable at the starter switch.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the pedal (Key 2), operating link pin (Key 7), operating rod (Key 9), operating rod yoke (Key 11), and yoke pin (Key 14).

If there is power to the starter switch, then remove the operating link pin from the pedal.

Push the operating rod upwards to engage the starter switch.

If the starting motor runs, then adjust the length on the operating rod.

If the starting motor does not run, then remove the starter switch.

Take a look at the diagram below.





Note the stud terminal (Key 16) located on the starting motor.

Touch the end of the battery cable to the stud terminal on the starting motor.

If the starting motor runs, then inspect the switch for wear.

If the starting motor does not run, then check for wear on the stud terminal.

Take a look at the photo below of a switch.





Check for wear on both the copper terminals.

If they are worn, then there may not be a good connection with the stud terminal on the starting motor.

You might consider installing a new switch.

If the new switch does not run the starting motor, then remove the starter and replace or rotate the stud terminal.

Hope this helps.

If the battery connections are good (remove, wire brush and replace) you might try to ground to a frame bolt versus a thin rusty seat box. Then check the connection on the starter switch and the cable and ends from battery down to starter switch. If all that is good another suspect is the saddle mount starter switch itself (burned and carboned or pitted contacts) and/or the starter post/stud where that switch connects when depressed. Also insure when you depress the lever the button on the starter switch actually goes all the way down deep as there could be some linkage issues.

Turn the light on or have a voltmeter on the battery and try to start it. If the lights don't dim and the voltage dont drop I suspect a bad starter switch or a bad ground or cable or battery connection. However if the lights dim way down and the battery voltage drops drastically I suspect the cables and switch is okay so the starter may be bad or mechanically stuck/jammed into the flywheel gears which rocking the tractor or loosening the starter may cure.

Cables,,,,,,,,,,Bad Ground,,,,,,,,,,Bad switch or starter post/button.

John T

Same problem with my 48 a. Took the trouble to rebuild the starter, replaced it and no start.
So THEN I checked the cable to the starter and bingo. I have to learn to start with the easy stuff first LOL.
Doug

If it has compression relief petcocks under the block, open those to make sure nothing comes out!

You MAY have had your gas tank drain into the crank case over the winter and it is hydraulically locked up with fuel in the cylinders.

Or maybe it took on water over the winter (leaky roof?)& has fluid (oil or water) in one of both cylinders?

If you don't have compression releifs in the bottom of the block, remove the plugs & see if it cranks BUT MAKE SURE YOU DISABLE THE IGNITION SYSTEM before hitting that starter! Gas may fly everywhere & flames may follow! Please be cautious and careful.