Tractor will only start and continue to run off a jumpstart

DrewCK

New User
Hi all. I am perplexed as to what is happening. I have a ford 8n that is having a problem starting. The tractor has been sitting for a while and when trying to push button to start the starter will just click. However when you hook the tractor up to a car to jumpstart it, the tractor cranks and runs right away. As soon as you take the cables off the tractor it dies though. I know that the battery is good. Any ideas on what is happening?
 
(quoted from post at 11:55:34 08/20/14) Hi all. I am perplexed as to what is happening. I have a ford 8n that is having a problem starting. The tractor has been sitting for a while and when trying to push button to start the starter will just click. However when you hook the tractor up to a car to jumpstart it, the tractor cranks and runs right away. As soon as you take the cables off the tractor it dies though. I know that the battery is good. Any ideas on what is happening?
How did you test the battery to be "good"?
What all has been modified on the electrical system or did you jump a 6V system with a 12V system ?
 
Hi Not ever worked on those tractors, But from your description I wonder if it's dirty terminals and ground connections. Kinda thinking the jumper cables are making better contact to the tractor than it's own battery and connections. Thus when you disconnect the jumper it looses power and stops.
Try cleaning all the terminals real good and see what happens.
Had this happen on a big 4wd Case IH, it would start all day long if boosted from a grain truck, but not under it's own 3 battery's. Customer cleaned terminals no better. I went and cleaned terminals properly. it fired right up and has done ever since.
Regards Robert
 
I have tried another battery that starts and runs another
tractor that i have and i have checked the charge on it. The
electrical system has been converted over to a 12V system
before i have owned it. The tractor has an alternator and a
front mount distributor.
 
Hi will just add if you got those nasty lead bolt on cable ends make sure they have good clean contact as well under the clamps that hold the wires. with the lead terminals I have seen them get a black coating where it goes on the battery. if you got that its pretty hard junk to get off and back to a clean bright terminal. It could be a faulty cable as well.
Had a Major gas here wouldn't turn over at all with a good battery . the ground cable was all that was wrong, so put on a new one and away it went. That was a day buying an un known non running cheap tractor paid off.
Regards Robert
 
well.. it's like this. your tractor needs gas and electrons and air to run.

air is everywhere

if she started on a jump.. you got gas!

if she died when you removed the jump cables..... what's that tell you?

you are missing electrons!

I don't care that it has a 12v conversion.. or 24v or 36v.. or 120/240v.

it ain't getting electrons! it ain't getting them fromt he battery or the alternator, generator, dynamo, steam turbine.. warp reactor.. whatever!

The fact it started on a jump means the wireing from the battery to the key switch to the coil is GOOD.

that leave the battery, battery connections, and alternator and alternator connections to look at!
 
Hi Thanks for letting us know you got it fixed and thanks for Thanking us, Most of us reply to many guys around on the net, And never hear a reply if a guy sorted the problem, or even get a thanks for the free advice.

I got shop customers pay me $45 an hour, and know I do forums, they have said more than once what forums do they need to join.so i could tell them how to fix there problems and cut out the hour rate, told the last guy he needs the tools and know how to use them, sometimes it"s not that simple L.O.L.
Regards Robert
 

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