Electrical/cranking problem with WD

The starter (this tractor has a pull-ring type of mechanism to start it, connecting by a rod to a push-button that fits against the starter) turned the engine over reasonably well when I had the plugs out, getting the water out of the engine. There was water in only one cylinder - none came out of the other three.

But when I put the plugs back in, the starter will only turn the engine a few slow turns, then it gets in a bind, and won't turn over any more. The positive cable from the battery and the on/off switch wire, which both go on top of the bolt/terminal on the push-button switch, start to get hot. Something in the electrical scheme isn't right.

And putting the plugs back in after I did the other work made the starter turn noticeably slower. It's like the starter can turn the engine over if there's no load on it, but it can't do much if there is. It's like the electricity getting to the starter isn't good enough.

The ground wire that goes from the negative battery to the tractor frame is clean and tight. The positive battery cable isn't the best, but it should be OK. I took the starter off and had an auto electrical shop test it, and it's fine. No problem there. I haven't followed the on/off switch wire back to the switch, because it's inside a case that I haven't opened up.

But why won't the starter motor turn over any faster? The battery is OK, and I even used jumper cables and a car to make sure enough power was coming in. What could be creating this heat where the wires come together at the push-button on the starter motor? I was standing to the side doing this cranking - I didn't have the clutch pushed in.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I need to cut my grass - and plow my garden - soon! Thanks.

Tim

Dave

I will run through those steps again. Cranking it sent dirty water flying out the No. 2 cylinder, but none came out of the other three. When basically nothing more was coming out, I stopped and put things back together.

It sounds like your idea of more water in the engine might be it. But how could there be so much water still in there somewhere as to put the engine in a bind, when nothing major continues to come out of the plug holes? Rust-up shouldn't be a factor, because it's only been about 4 months or so since this thing was running fine.

Should I be able to get all the water out by draining the oil pan and pulling the plugs? Is there any other step to take?

Thanks. By the way, I'm getting my brother to help me build a shed for this tractor and my other one (Case VAC) so I don't get in this situation again.