Oliver 550 Possitive Ground starting problem

BDuke · Aug 28, 2013

Hi Guys,
I have a gutsy little 550 that has been giving great service... until... a few weeks ago the bindex in the starter went out and I decided to get the generator and the starter rebuilt. I put them back on, but the starter will not engage when the key is turned. It turns out that the 550 is a positive ground system. If I take a jump wire from the negative terminal of the battery to the solenoid it will turn over.
Now my question is if it started with a P ground system BEFORE I had the work done, why will it not start now? And what can I do to fix it?
Any help would be great. I need this thing up and running again soon.
Thanks!
BDuke

Anonymous-0 · Aug 28, 2013

Postive ground has nothing to do with it. Are you sure that the safety switch is closing the circuit? If not see if the switch is bad or if it need adjustment.

BDuke · Aug 28, 2013

Thanks for the response Mr. Schwiebert,

I'm sure the switch is good. I checked it with a meter and it was getting current to the solenoid.
Since I had it done at the same time as the generator, could it have anything to do with the regulator? I'm not very good with these "Classics".

BDuke

Gambles · Aug 28, 2013

In order to do any decent troubleshooting, buy a $5 test (yes/no) light from your friendly auto parts store. Shell out another $5 for a digital volt meter from your your local Horror Freight store and you have the tools needed to fix 90% of your electrical woes. If it stops you from throwing parts at it just one time, both items will be paid for.

oliver90owner · Aug 29, 2013

Which terminal did you jump to on the solenoid? If the feed side, your connection from the battery to solenoid is poor.

If it was to the starter motor side it could be the above, the solenoid or the ignition switch feed to the solenoid which is the fault

oliver90owner · Aug 29, 2013

All, of course, expecting the 'jump wire' is like a battery jump lead and not an 8amp sized connector.

If the wire is only the small section it will be a fault in the solenoid energising circuit - from battery to switch to solenoid.

RAB

Dick W. · Aug 29, 2013

As suggested, get a 12 volt test light and check the little wire at the solenoid on the starter when you turn the key to start the tractor. If the light doesn't light up you have a problem in the switch circuit. (first,make sure the test light is working)

BDuke · Aug 29, 2013

Thanks for the response Dick,

The stater safety/ interupter was tested. It was one of the first things I checked when I couldn"t get the starter to engage. I used a multi-meter and it show just over 12 volts at the solenoid when the key is turned while depressing the clutch.

Thanks!
BDuke

Dick W. · Aug 29, 2013

Check the voltage at both of the big wires on the solenoid. The battery side should be the same as at the battery. The other side should be just a little less if the starter isn't open circuit. If the starter side isn't up to voltage your solenoid is defective. You will want to check the big wire on the battery side for proper voltage when you turn the key to start. You may want to check both ends of the ground for voltage drop. To do that you will connect one meter wire to the starter mounting bolt and the other wire to the ground side battery post. Then try to start the engine and watch the volt reading on your meter.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 30, 2013

Are you sure they put the correct bendix in the starter? I had mine rebuilt once and they put in the wrong bendix. When the solenoid energized the pulled pulled the wrong way and would not engage the flywheel.

Oliver 550 Possitive Ground starting problem

BDuke

New User

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

BDuke

New User

Gambles

Well-known Member

oliver90owner

Member

oliver90owner

Member

Dick W.

Member

BDuke

New User

Dick W.

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Similar threads