1948 8N (front coil) converted to 12V before I had. So a couple years back I got this tractor running, but have had starting issues since the beginning. I have followed wiring advice, and have replaced solenoid twice, battery twice, starter rebuilt and also replaced with new starter, and new alternator. Most of those money-grubbing replacements did not help anything.
I generally have had to start the tractor with two 12V batteries (jumping). Starts well with a rolling start. Now I can not get it to turn over even jumping with a running car. At best I get a solenoid chatter. I have four terminal solenoid (not ground-activated), and the S is only showing 2-4 volts when I turn ignition to start. No spark if I jump from positive battery post to starter post. Just now I figured out if I take red cable off post and then jump from battery post to starter I get very strong "welding" sparks, but starter makes no effort to turn. Pretty sure same thing happened with the rebuilt starter. Starter to frame contact has been polished and bolts are quite tight. Hard to believe that poor grounding could be an issue. When I took the rebuilt starter out it would give a superfast whizz when jumped. I have tried all three solenoids I have sitting around. (Solenoid is frame mounted, not starter mounted.)
I think I have been "compensating" for some issue now, and it would be really useful to have a tractor that starts. Help
I generally have had to start the tractor with two 12V batteries (jumping). Starts well with a rolling start. Now I can not get it to turn over even jumping with a running car. At best I get a solenoid chatter. I have four terminal solenoid (not ground-activated), and the S is only showing 2-4 volts when I turn ignition to start. No spark if I jump from positive battery post to starter post. Just now I figured out if I take red cable off post and then jump from battery post to starter I get very strong "welding" sparks, but starter makes no effort to turn. Pretty sure same thing happened with the rebuilt starter. Starter to frame contact has been polished and bolts are quite tight. Hard to believe that poor grounding could be an issue. When I took the rebuilt starter out it would give a superfast whizz when jumped. I have tried all three solenoids I have sitting around. (Solenoid is frame mounted, not starter mounted.)
I think I have been "compensating" for some issue now, and it would be really useful to have a tractor that starts. Help