Somerschool

New User
I have an early 8N (Serial number 1000 or so) that deserves a better owner than me and a MUCH better mechanic. Here's my problem:

I was mowing tall grass and lost power. Turned out my air filter was completely clogged with grass seeds. By the time I figured out that problem, however, the tractor had been out in the field in an inch or more of rain. When I went to start it, I got NOTHING.

I assumed the battery was dead, and charged it up to a full 6V before I tried again. Still NOTHING. NO clicks, no noise, no nothing. It's just like what happens when you try to start the tractor while it is in gear--nothing.

I got out my voltmeter and measured no voltage drop between the hot wire on the starter and the starter button. I pushed the button and got a very satisfactory 6V drop. So it would appear that I have all the electricity I need at exactly the right spot.

My local mechanic suggested I whack the starter with a hammer. I did so, but without a lot of confidence. Nothing. I read a suggestion online that I put the tractor in high gear and rock it until the fan rotated. I did that and heard some encouraging puffing noises from the pistons, but no change back at the starter.

I'm assuming the rain could have allowed something to short out somewhere, but I can't see why I still wouldn't get some reaction from the starter if I put 6 volts through it. I can't see why the starter would completely die on my after sitting in the rain. Is there anything I can do with a voltmeter, hammer, or pixie dust short of replacing the starter?
 
Im probably not the best person to give you advice as I'm learning myself, but just on hunch any chance your distributor might have water in it
after sitting out? Might try to dry it out and see.
 
Somerschool ,The brushes in the starter could be worn out(to short)causing the starter not to run.You could remove the brush cover from the front of the starter and inspect the brushes and brush springs.If they are worn out,remove the two long 5/16 through bolts and thread at least one 5/16"NC nut on the bolt to keep the starter from coming apart before trying to remove it.It would be best to find a local auto electric rebuild shop and have them rebuild your starter and add a new style drive on it, as opposed buying a POS new made in China,Ect starter.
 
When you did the voltage test at the starter, did you go from the actual starter post (not the cable or nut, but THE post) to the starter case (not the engine or battery cable, but the actual CASE)?

If you got 6v to the starter, and nothing was happening, take the starter off and open it up. It may just have stuck/dirty brushes, or a broken connection. If it's something you can fix, it's fixed! If not, put it back together and take it to a starter repair shop. They can fix it cheaper/better than a new aftermarket.
 
If you measured the hot wire are you talking about the wire to the solenoid. I suspect you have a grounding problem with your starter cables. Rain does weird things to the grounding system. The starter itself is grounded where it bolts on. I would clean your terminals real good at the battery, where the ground wire bolts on and the terminal on your starter. would suspect it will fix your problem. just my 3 cents worth norm
 
Got the tractor started today. The wire from the starter to the starter button had shorted out. Here's what I learned in the process:

1) When you use a voltmeter, check the RESISTANCE as well as the voltage drop. I could tell that I was getting the 6 volt drop I needed between the starter button and the starter by putting my voltmeter across it. If I had switched to "Ohms" instead of "Volts" at that moment I would have known exactly what my problem was.

2) The hard part about fixing old tractors is NOT figuring out what's wrong. It's getting those rusty old nuts loose.
 

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