farmall cub won't crank

dickr326 · Feb 14, 2019

I have a 54 cub that has always been a reluctant starter, turning over slowly and eventually catching. When trying to start her today, she
was cranking but wouldn't catch. The next time I tied there was just a muffled click and nothing. With subsequent tries I just hear a
slight sizzling sound at the starter, like the juice is there but it's meeting resistance. The battery is brand new, and all the
terminals/connections have been cleaned. Your thoughts.

rustred · Feb 14, 2019

its talking to you , better look into that sizzling.

C.Amick · Feb 14, 2019

What size are your cables? Do you have the battery cable ends that clamp on to the cable? If so, take the cable ends off and clean them.

Hayfarmer · Feb 14, 2019

the "sizzzling" would indicate heat wich is usually due to a bad connection. I am not familiar with that starter but does it have a button on top that is pressed to get starter to run? If so remove it and see if connection between it and starter are good. There could also be a problem inside the starter, a short of some kind. You could pull starter off and see if it will work off of the tractor. How are your battery cables? realize they are clean but 6 volt starter likes big cables.

elijahearnestfarmall · Feb 14, 2019

Have you tried coast starting it? For me, that sometimes loosens/ moves the problem around. Not the best solution but always a possibility lol

ShakerPrairie · Feb 14, 2019

This could be a number of things, or a combination of.
You might take the band off of the starter and look at the brushes and armature. I found some oil on an armature the other day and cleaned it off with CRC Lectra Clean spray cleaner. That helped but the starter has other problems too.
Worn bushings can let a an armature drag on a pole shoe and just a little bit of that really saps a starter.
Usually when the bushings get to that point the brushes are worn down too.

Charlie M · Feb 15, 2019

Sounds like yours is still 6v. A six volt system, even on a small engine like that has to have everything in good shape to work right. That means heavy cables, clean and solid connections, good battery and starter. Sounds like something needs fixing. Easy to start with connections - take them apart, clean real well and make sure they are tight. I have a 47 Cub that the previous owner converted to 12 volts. Talk about spinning a motor. Maybe you also have something going on with the engine. If it cranks it shouldn't take much to start it. Maybe a tune up is needed.

mattofvinings · Feb 15, 2019

The rocker contact on the starter housing can get worn to the point where it won't contact properly. That can cause issues.

On my Super A I had to remove the rocker assembly and slot the holes with a file so it could be pushed closer to the front of the tractor and then screwed down again.

And as mentioned a 12v conversion is a nice upgrade.

gene bender · Feb 15, 2019

Pull the starter and get it serviced before you ruin it. The button on top of the starter can have trouble solder connection ect. So just get the starter serviced take the sadle sw along also

dickr326 · Feb 15, 2019

(quoted from post at 18:48:20 02/14/19) What size are your cables? Do you have the battery cable ends that clamp on to the cable? If so, take the cable ends off and clean them.

Thanks, I'll do that.

farmall cub won't crank

dickr326

New User

rustred

Well-known Member

C.Amick

Member

Hayfarmer

Well-known Member

elijahearnestfarmall

Member

ShakerPrairie

Member

Charlie M

Well-known Member

mattofvinings

Member

gene bender

Well-known Member

dickr326

New User

Similar threads