8n help 1st tractor wont start with new starter

aarononeil

New User
Hello, I bought a 1952 Ford 8n this past December and it was running great I had it stored over winter and started it every week to keep it going. About 2 months ago the starter went I know this because as I started it the bendix disengaged from the flywheel and was just spinning. I tried hitting it with a hammer gently to see if I could start. I took the starter out had it repaired locally and a new solenoid and once hooked back up nothing? Just the clicking of the solenoid no spinning or attempts the spin IE engage flywheel and crank. I thought it might be a bad replacement starter so I ordered a new one from this site and installed it, now I get a really loud clicking and the starter body moves but no spinning in the flywheel just a click. Battery is new cables look ok. I did notice that the cable to the solenoid gets hot. I replaced the blk ground off the battery. The key switch seems to not be working I say this as it does turn off and on but the starter button attempts to fire in two of the 3 positions.

I bought the manuals off of here and I am just stumped by what should have been relatively easy. PLease any help or pointing in the right direction would be great, otherwise I have to rent a trailer and have it brought to a guy about 40 minutes away with an unknown repair cost, I am not made of money so if their is a link or someone who has been through this I would appreciate the help.
Thanks Aaron
 
First problem--Cable to solenoid gets hot= Bad connection...cables can look good but be packed with corrosion..
 
" Battery is new cables look ok. "

Got x-ray vision, huh?

First, replace the cables.

Next, charge the battery. New or not, they do discharge.

You need a strong battery to:

1. Close the solenoid

2. Spin the starter

3. Engage the bendix

4. Provide voltage to the coil.

As the battery gets weaker, the first thing to fail is your spark. If the battery is almost totally dead, all you will hear is the solenoid clicking.

In addition to charging the battery, chances are you need new cables as well (tip # 41). And, don't forget to clean all the grounds, to include the mating area between the starter & the block.

The more current you use to spin the starter, the less you have for the ignition.

" The key switch seems to not be working I say this as it does turn off and on but the starter button attempts to fire in two of the 3 positions. "

Huh?

The starting & ignition circuits are separate. (unless some PO has installed a car switch)

Google "wiring diagrams JMOR" and find the diagram for your tractor. The ignition switch should only control voltage to the coil.....nothing else. If the thumb switch will not cause the starter to engage w/o having the ignition switch in some position, then the tractor has a wiring problem.
75 Tips
 
so she won't turn over with rebuilt or new starter.

check bat to make sur eit is charged.. and for the heck of it. make sure she is not hydrolocked.

also.. are you saying your theum button activates the starter with key on or off? if so.. that is correct. they are seperate systems.. unless you have jiggered up a key to start setup..
 
cables have all been cleaned and do look ok battery was charged just prior to testing via pep boys and battery indicated full charge and 100 % ready to go, full cold crank amps. When the starter died all it did was spin making the tell tale noise of a non engaging bendix. I pulled it and it had broken a piece off i used a magnet inside flywheel area to make sure no pieces. the fly wheel looks ok. At his point I have cleaned and checked the cables and tightened all connections and all that happens is just the solenoid clicking. So I am wondering should I just start replacing all the wiring as it looks old maybe original or at least very old. the manuals all indicate a poor connection I just cant seem to find where? At this point where would you guys start? I was looking to purchase the restoration quality but that is 6 volt only on here, the 12v says main engine wiring only? so can you guide me in the direction so that I get the right components ordered to start?

Thanks for helping
 
Don't just start replacing every part.

Concentrate on the cause of the problem.

" all that happens is just the solenoid clicking. "

The solenoid is making a noise because of low voltage. That is likely caused by:

1. A weak battery (charge it & check it per tip # 49))

2. Dirty grounds/connections (remove the cables & clean the connections)

3. Bad cables or incorrect sized cables (replace them - see tip # 41)

4. Bad ground between the starter & the block. (pull the starter away from the block & clean the mating area - see tip # 36)

" At his point I have cleaned and checked the cables ..."

You do not have x-ray vision. You can not see corrosion in the cables.

Start there.
75 Tips
 
The only wires you need for the starter to turn it over are the
battery cables and the small wire from the thumb push start
button to the small terminal on the solenoid.
Assuming your tractor is wired as original.
If it is, the wire from the thumb switch goes to the small terminal
on the solenoid mounted on the starter and that small terminal
needs to be facing in toward the engine. Not out.
When you had the starter out, could you turn the engine over
with a big screwdriver on the flywheel teeth?
 
yes i could turn it over by hand. and those wires were correct. The solenoid clicks but is it possible that if the starter button wire were bad not enough power would go to the solenoid resulting in a no start scenario?
 

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