4020 gas starter won't disengage

oldtymer · Oct 7, 2015

We have a 4020 gas that we have just had the starter rebuilt. It was working ok before but now when you turn the key if it doesn't start the starter won't disengage. To make it stop you have to unhook a battery cable. What can be causing this? My dad thinks it is the little rely above the starter but I don't know....The solenoid is supposed to be new also

Lee B · Oct 7, 2015

This same thing happened to me one time when I stopped into the local repair shop and asked for a new bendix drive for my 64 rambler cross country station wagon with the rambler 287 engine. He went in the back and came out with one, but said this will work but it ain't right, this belongs on a ford properly.

From that moment on the starter would never release by itself unless the engine started when all things became normal again. I suspect it's a case of too much metal between the starter shaft and the flywheel, the wedge effect of same prevents easy disengagement. On some Delco starters they have shims to adjust this function but I've never had that problem except on the rambler.

I would suggest you loosen the bolts and try to move it away from the flywheel as much as possible to then tighten the bolts again. If this doesn't do it, look into the wrong bendix drive somehow winding up on that rebuilt starter?

cole in mo. · Oct 7, 2015

Sounds like the solenoid is sticking, next time it does that, rap the solenoid with a good sized wrench, most time it will stop.

Pete in MD · Oct 7, 2015

Take it back to the guy who rebuilt it.

westga · Oct 7, 2015

I had the same problem on my 4020 after the starter was rebuilt. After returning the starter to the repair shop tested okay and after a second new solenoid was installed and then was told that maybe i didn't have a good ground and then told well maybe i didn't have heavy enough battery cables I tore the starter down myself. The lever between the solenoid and the benix drive was the problem. I turned it around. There is a mark on the lever that is an "arrow" with a "F". I don't remember if the arrow and the f points to "flywheel" or "front" of tractor. If it were me and it has been I would turn that lever around.

Lee B · Oct 8, 2015

I'll change my bet after westga's story. Do it yourself to be sure the actuating lever gets turned around. The rebuilder seems to not know this much. Not that I would have either.

oldtymer · Oct 8, 2015

Thanks everyone. I'll look at that this weekend. The shop that rebuilt it is a reputable one but that solenoid was put on a year or so ago we just never run the tractor alot so he might not have looked at it. I'll check the lever and maybe try to find or make some shims and move the started out some if that doesn't work .

westga · Oct 8, 2015

I left out one more fix that was suggested on my 4020 starter and this one was from the JD shop and that was the hydraulic pump could cause this. That was when the light bulb went on in my head that it was the STARTER. So I tore the starter apart looking for something and the only thing was the lever because of the arrow and the F. At first the lever apeared it would work either way but then why would it be marked? After a closer look you can see there is a slight difference in the lever one side compared to the other. Anyway that was the only change in the starter that I could find to make. That was my problem.

Whenever the starter was bench tested it would work every time flawlessly. But on the tractor it never would stop until you took a battery cable lose. This was 10 years ago. I was going to buy a new starter if I couldn't find something in the starter.

Tx Jim · Oct 9, 2015

(quoted from post at 16:59:43 10/08/15) I left out one more fix that was suggested on my 4020 starter and this one was from the JD shop and that was the hydraulic pump could cause this.

I've never heard before that the hyd pump can cause starter to stay engaged nor do I see any correlation. Granted a battery with low voltage can cause solenoid to hang in start position.

westga · Oct 9, 2015

I couldn't see how a hydraulic pump could do it either. His theory was something about pump under pressure. Anyway that was when I turn my attention back to the starter. The starter was rebuilt by the best shop in town but was assembled wrong.

Tx Jim · Oct 9, 2015

(quoted from post at 10:09:12 10/09/15) I couldn't see how a hydraulic pump could do it either. His theory was something about pump under pressure.

Rapidly moving steering wheel from side to side while engaging starter will relieve any pressure buildup.

4020 gas starter won't disengage

oldtymer

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Lee B

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cole in mo.

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Pete in MD

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westga

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Lee B

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oldtymer

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westga

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Tx Jim

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westga

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Tx Jim

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