1963 Ford 2000 wiring questions

Jimmike44

New User
I have several things going on with this 2000 that I bought this year, but I want to address some wiring questions to begin with (for now!). I will try to keep this as short as possible.

The tractor was running just fine (not great, but fine), then it sat for a few weeks while I couldn't play with it. I went out to just to crank it up and it would not start. The starter sounded like it was trying, but it wouldn't fire. After several attempts to crank, the starter actually got STUCK on, even after removing the key! After running to get a wrench to disconnect the battery, the starter finally stopped on it's own.

I thought maybe it wasn't getting gas, needed plugs/wires, etc. (I had planned to rebuild the tractor over time anyway, I mean hey, it was a $600 purchase .

I pulled the gas tank off, I will be cleaning the rust out, lining the tank, and then painting it at some point. I put a temporary gas tank back in place with the fuel line running directly to the carburetor, and bypassing an in-line filter that I thought may have contributed to the issue.

After hooking the battery back up, I tried turning the key, and all I could hear was a clicking noise from the starter solenoid, and that didn't even happen every time I turned the key.

I purchased a solenoid from Yesterday's Tractors that appeared to be very similar to the "original", 2 big posts and 2 smaller posts.

I tried to hook up the new one like the old one, but they aren't EXACTLY the same. The original had the positive cable from the battery going to a big post, which ALSO had a small white wire from the ignition attached to the same big post.

The other big post went to the starter. And there was a small black wire that went to a small post on the solenoid.

SO, with all that being said, my FIRST question, how the heck should this solenoid be wired, because the starter still won't do anything, and I need to know if the starter itself is bad or not?


Secondly, I'm curious about so many wires coming from the ignition itself. I ask this because the replacement ignition that Yesterday's Tractors sells only has 2 wires on it. Here are the 5 coming from my switch:

1. Black wire (with tape on it) running to the coil

2. Black wire running to the solenoid

3. Dirty white wire (holding in my hand in the picture) was originally double mounted with the positive battery cable on the solenoid.

4. Clean white goes to alternator

5. Red goes to volt gauge on my non-existent "dashboard"

I would GREATLY appreciate any help getting all this wiring correct and my tractor running again!

Thanks!
Mike
mvphoto26303.jpg


mvphoto26304.jpg
 
Looks like it has been modified to operate like an automobile key/start/run switch, thus bypassing the neutral safety start switch. Big wire terminal end does need to be on solenoid stud along with the battery cable as that is where all else on tractor gets power. Solenoid may or may not be correct for that application. If after connecting wire mentioned above, still no starter function, thr applying power to the now unconnected solenoid terminal, & if still nothing, try ground to that small terminal and try again. Be sure you are in neutral so as to not run over yourself.
 

I'm not quite following you. How do I know which big post the battery positive cable goes to and therefore, which big post goes to the starter?

If I hook up both of those big wires, and nothing else, what will tell the starter to "go"?

Thanks!
 
(quoted from post at 13:52:48 11/03/18)
I'm not quite following you. How do I know which big post the battery positive cable goes to and therefore, which big post goes to the starter?

If I hook up both of those big wires, and nothing else, what will tell the starter to "go"?

Thanks!
here are several solenoids that look alike but are electrically different, so............I can't give a definite answer, but I expect that for the solenoid that I expect that you have, which big post is which will not matter. Signal to small post activates solenoid.
 
Disconnect any wiring to the small terminals. Get out your ohmmeter and ohm across the small terminals. You should get a resistance reading. Move
one of the leads over to the metal bracket on the solenoid and you should get an open circuit. If so, proceed:

Wire one small terminal to 12v via your ignition switch. Wire the other small terminal to your transmission safety switch mounted in the tranny top cover.
To operate, turn on your ignition switch, shift your tranny to N with the left stick if dual range, or just N on a 4 speed. Push the safety switch button on
top of the starter to start engine.

If you failed the terminal to case test you need to get a solenoid with an isolated control winding that is not grounded within the solenoid so that your
tranny safety switch will function properly AND POSSIBLY SAVE YOUR LIFE, OR A LIFE THREATENING INJURY THAT WILL OCCUR, JUST A MATTER OF
WHEN.....by not using the tranny safety switch!
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top