52 JD A- no crank

John 37A · Oct 7, 2013

Working on a 52 A. It cranked over once or twice and just stopped cranking like it lost power. The battery is good, there is power at the starter lug. I pulled the starter off and ran jumper cables to the starter, hit the switch and it spun, no problem. If I hook a test light to the positive terminal of the battery and the probe to the starter case, it makes a good ground. However, ground is lost when the starter pedal is depressed. Is this supposed to happen?

I am lost, unless there is something that I'm overlooking. A friend jumped on it and it started for him when I wasn't around. It won't do anything for me. The starter doesn't even try to turn.

What's my next step?

Randy G · Oct 7, 2013

Check the contact stud on the starter case under the push button switch. May be worn and contact not being made all the time. Also check under the switch to make sure the switch contact is inn good shape to make good contact w/ the stud on starter case.

ET · Oct 8, 2013

Make sure the rod from the starter pedal is not touching the hot stud on the starter when the pedal is depresed.

John 37A · Oct 8, 2013

Thanks for the tips. I'll check those things after work today.

LS Bull · Oct 8, 2013

I had a similar problem with my 51A. It turned out that the stud
screwed into the starter case which is rectangular, was turned
about 45 degrees, and the switch was not making enough
contact. Sounds like your problem may be different, and may
include the push rod down from pedal. Also, make SURE that arm
that reaches up through that triangular hole in the frame is not
touching the frame. (Those who have put a started back into one
of those model A"s will recall the strings of four letter words that
were spit out in THAT process!!)

Good luck.

John 37A · Oct 8, 2013

Tried everything mentioned with no luck. I can't see where it is grounding out anywhere on the rod. I took the switch apart and cleaned it up. It didn't look too bad.

Using a multimeter, I noticed also that voltage drops from 12 to 0.01 or 0 when the starter is depressed. This is measuring at the starter wire lug near the lever rod behind the flywheel. Wouldn't that make it a dead short in the cable?

ET · Oct 9, 2013

You have a bad ground. Clean where your ground cable hooks to the frame. If it grounds through the battery box, there may be no conection between the box and the tractor frame. Try hooking a jumper cable from the ground post on the battery to the frame of the tractor down by the starter as a test. That should eliminate the bad conections.

John 37A · Oct 9, 2013

Good call, ET. Got it going tonight. Thanks to all for the suggestions and help.

52 JD A- no crank

John 37A

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John 37A

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