57 300 starting issue

When it is below 0, it might take 15-20 turns of the key, with a click each time before the starter turns and the tractor starts.

When it is about 0 to 20 above, it will take about 7-15 turns to start,

Around 20-35, 3-5 key turns.

Above 35, or so, one or two key turns I am off and running.

Any ideas as to what to look at for the problem?

In the '50s as a teen in PA I drove a 6v VAI to deliver the milk cans to the loading dock, catch the school bus. Tractor sat there all day, picked up the empties and drive back to the farm about 1.5 mi. Did that for 3 winters, started right up on hand crank, rarely got much more than a solenoid click on the battery about Nov to Apr.

Neighbor farm girl did the same thing on an N Ford, same thing, crank start mostly me on both of them. NO ONE is going to convince me that 6v is consistently adequate to start a 4 cyl farm tractor that is parked out in the weather.

Joe

Take it apart, wipe clean with cloth. Light spray with electrical cleaner and blow off with low pressure air. The idea is to not drive the grit down into the windings where it can abrade the insulation and short out the windings down the line. Once you get it clean to the eyeball then you can be more agressive with the cleaner and air pressure.

If the commutator has brush wear ridge or scoring, take it in for turning. Don't try to clean the dark burnish off the bars, isn't hurting anything, leave it alone.

Joe

Joe