Ford 3600 not starting

Philip498

Member
I just joined this forum and this is my first post so my problem may have been covered before. The starter on my Ford 3600 diesel will not engage. The battery is new and I have replaced the ignition switch. I will be cleaning and checking all of the electrical connections but if the problem lies in the neutral safety switch, is that hard to replace? Does it just pull out of the top of the transmission? Also, if I have to pull the starter, how many bolts will need to be removed? With my loader on, it is a little hard to determine. Any suggestion anybody has will be greatly appreciated!
 
Try moving the smaller shift lever fore and aft a bit while turning the key to start to see if that helps. If it doesn't there are two wires that come out from under the dash. They have bullet connectors on them. Unplug them from the top cover wires and plug them together. Then try to start it. Make sure you are in neutral.
The neutral safety switch is not hard to change.
Pull the top cover off the transmission and follow the wires to the switch. Don't use a bunch of darned pucky when replacing the gasket/cover. Try that before pulling the starter.
There are 3 bolts holding the starter. The back one is hard to get to with the fuel filter and starter in the way.
But with the right combo of socket, swivel and extension it can be done. Take the back one out First. Disconnect the battery before you start.
Lastly, get yourself a manual.
This site sells them. You want an I&T FO-41 manual. About $30 which is CHEAP for all the info it provides.
 
It is easy to change that switch just pull the transmission cover off and it is right there. You DO have the high/low range lever in neutral, right? That is what opens and closes the neutral safety switch, not the other (gear shift) lever.
 
I had the neutral switch issue on my 6610, I held the key switch on, then moved the shuttle back and forth until it cranked.

I just replaced the switch this summer, it is not hard to do.
 
There are ways to do some simple trouble shooting to find where the problem maybe. Be 1000% sure it is out of gear and then run a jumper from the battery to the starter stud and see if the starter spins over. If it does then try jumping he small wire on the solenoid to the battery ignition side and see if it turns over. If it does then your problem if from there back to the battery and likely to be the safety switch or even a bad wire
 
O.K. I will give that a try. I will do everything else before trying to remove the starter. I do have a I&T FO-41 manual but it didn't offer a lot of information regarding starter removal. I tend to think the neutral safety switch may be the problem. Many thanks!
 
Yes I always make sure that both levers are in neutral but maybe moving the right-hand lever while trying to start may produce results.
 

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