'58 Ford 850 only starts by jumping solenoid

Rmtworks

New User
Early in the season she started right after after the winter. Next time I go to start it, seems the battery was dead. So I charged it up, eventually replaced it and still no start.

I just replaced the starter solenoid, checked all the switches and she only starts when I short the solenoid posts, and immediately dies when I remove that connection. I am getting 12V to the ON/OFF toggle, and it seems to work as designed.

The only thing that I did not test is the foot ignition switch, which I can't seem to get off, but I am going to "short" that out today and see if it will start on her own.

What should I look at next, ignition coil? Any ideas?

Thank you in advance.
 
(quoted from post at 10:07:03 10/17/21) Early in the season she started right after after the winter. Next time I go to start it, seems the battery was dead. So I charged it up, eventually replaced it and still no start.

I just replaced the starter solenoid, checked all the switches and she only starts when I short the solenoid posts, and immediately dies when I remove that connection. I am getting 12V to the ON/OFF toggle, and it seems to work as designed.

The only thing that I did not test is the foot ignition switch, which I can't seem to get off, but I am going to "short" that out today and see if it will start on her own.

What should I look at next, ignition coil? Any ideas?Verify correct wiring at solenoid. May have small power wire (on a large post with battery cable) on wrong solenoid post and maybe battery to wrong large solenoid post.

Thank you in advance.
 
Jump the small solenoid post to ground. If that makes it crank, jump the electrical connection at the starter button to ground. If it still cranks and doesn't when depressing the button, you need a new starter button. If it doesn't crank when grounding the starter button terminal, you have an open in the wire from there to the solenoid.

If on the other hand, jumping the small post on the solenoid doesn't make it crank, you either have a bad solenoid or a wrong solenoid.

The solenoid should only have 3 posts, 2 big ones and a small one. If you have 2 small posts (which is what I suspect) you'll need to get ignition power to the 2nd small post, as well as ascertain that you have the right 4 post solenoid. It should have an internal loop between the two small posts where one is a ground when the starter button is pushed and the other is is switched B+ (I'm assuming your system is negative ground since it's 12 volt.)

NOTE: I should get you to clarify one thing: Is it a '58 or an 850. It can't be both! An 850 would have the 3 post solenoid. A '58 would be an 851 and it would have been equipped with the 4 post solenoid NH (Ford) part number 311007. Converted to 12 volt, it could use a 311006.

This post was edited by Larry NCKS on 10/17/2021 at 09:36 am.
 
Thanks...now I can't start it at all...I am not sure if I have the correct solenoid...I found a NAPA ST81 4 post unit just based on form factor from what I am replacing, but do not know if it is the correct one. I will hunt down the proper one.
 

Thanks Larry...my old document says 1958 Mode, 850 handwritten, so it could be wrong...I will look up the serial # of 140975.
 
(quoted from post at 13:34:11 10/17/21)
Thanks Larry...my old document says 1958 Mode, 850 handwritten, so it could be wrong...I will look up the serial # of 140975.
F really an 850, then ST-95.
But if 851, then, ST-542
 
Serial number 140975 would be a late 1957 850 or a mid-1961 851. Since it has a note that says it's a 1958 850, chances are that it's a late 1957 tractor sold new in early 1958.
 

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