farmall m electric start won't work

I tried to fire up my Farmall today, I already had it running a lot
today. I tried to start it up again and it wouldn't even turn over. I
think it's ether a starter(which is original) or the battery. I don't
think its the battery because when i was holding down the starter
switch I could here electricity flowing. Sometimes I could here the
starter move slightly. What's the problem?
 
Check the obvious first, battery connections, ground and starter connections.

Try jumping it, if it jump starts good possibility it's the battery. The battery could just be discharged, especially if it was running and is now dead. If the charging system wasn't working, the battery will need to be charged and the charging system tested once it's running.

The best test for a starter is on the engine so it can be under a load. A test light or volt meter will take the guess work out of it. See if you get power to the starter lug, be sure the case is grounded, mount bolts tight.
 
Hit the starter with a big block of wood or a baseball bat or something. Sounds like the brushes are getting bad and aren't making contact with the armature.
 
(quoted from post at 20:19:52 01/24/15) I tried to fire up my Farmall today, I already had it running a lot
today. I tried to start it up again and it wouldn't even turn over. I
think it's ether a starter(which is original) or the battery. I don't
think its the battery because when i was holding down the starter
switch I could here electricity flowing. Sometimes I could here the
starter move slightly. What's the problem?

The starter drive (bendix) is locked into the teeth on the flywheel. Turn the ignition off, put the transmission in 5th gear, and then push against a rear tire and "rock" the tractor back and forth a few times. Listen for a "click" from the starter, and you're good to go. Alternative method is to grab a 3/4" wrench, loosen the starter mounting bolts, and pull the starter out and away from the tractor a little ways. Again, listen for the "click", and then put the starter back in and tighten the bolts.

The full cure is to replace the starter drive, and maybe even the ring gear on the flywheel. Replacing just the starter drive might be good enough, or just leave it as it is. The problem may reoccur tomorrow, but it could be another year before it bothers again. It usually does not happen until the tractor is in a place where it is really inconvenient.
 
So here's a story to prove your situation. I had a bad starter on my M loader tractor. About once a year it would lock up. When it did there was no noise or anything but I could tell because the cable would get warm. I would take out the two bolts and it would release and all was good. It started to happen more and more and it always seemed to happen at the worst time. Fixing it when feeding cattle was a pain so I left it running more and more. I have a parts M so it isn't like I couldn't have done it any time. It was just at the bottom of the list.

Fast forward to apple picking time. I had the wife in the loader with five gallon buckets and I would just back out and drive into another spot high in the tree. She started to ask me about dinner so I shut it off. You know where this is headed. When it wouldn't start I didn't say a word, I just started to meander off toward the machine shed for wrenches. She caught me and asked what was going on. I told her and she just about had a seizure. At that moment the wind picked up and the loader was swaying slightly. By the time I got back to fix the starter she was telling the dogs (standing below staring) goodbye as she was sure she was going to die up there.

I swapped out the started the next day. Take out your bolts and wiggle the starter.
 
First thought is a bad battery or starter or ground connection. Remove every battery and starter and switch/solenoid and ground connection, clean and wire brush and try again.

1) If you turn the lights on or place a voltmeter on the battery see what happens when you try to start it??? If the lights dim way down and/or voltage drops drastically, Id suspect a STUCK JAMMED STARTER DRIVE or a bad starter. Try turning the engine back n forth and/or put her in high gear and rock the wheels and/or beat the starter to see if it unsticks.

2) If the lights don't hardly dim and/or the battery voltage don't drop much when you try to start her, Id check all the battery cables and connections and grounds for a loose or burned or carboned connection.

3) Also if the lights don't dim and/or battery voltage dont drop much (if battery and starter is okay????), it could be a bad starter switch or solenoid. Look for sparks or smoke/heat at the switch or solenoid.

SUMMARY: Bad cable or battery or ground connection,,,,,,,,Battery is bad (have it load tested and check its voltage),,,,,,,,,Starter drive is mechanically jammed/stuck to flywheel,,,,,,,,Bad switch or solenoid,,,,,,Bad starter

John T
 

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