Starter quit

I have a 1949 John Deere m and the starter quit,not even a click. Have anyone out there rebuilt one? Tips? Thank you. Vern

Be sure cable is hot at starter.
Remove starter switch and bump cable to copper
button on starter.
Still nothing then remove starter and have it
checked.

Most likely just the switch on top is
bad. Test it like D posted.

I'm with M-Man as most likely, but a second possibility is that the starter Bendix has jammed into the flywheel.
Put the tractor in 4th, and rock the rear wheel to see if the fan moves. If it does, forget this possibility.

If the fan doesn't move, loosen the starter on the torque tube, pry it back 1/4", shake it, and retighten.
Try the starter again. A broken Bendix spring will be obvious when you remove the starter.

Before I suspect the starter Id suspect the starter switch or a bad loose corroded battery cable or ground connection or the big cable attachment on the starter switch. Also insure a good and full charged battery

CHECK CONNECTIONS AT BATTERY AND STARTER SWITCH AND GROUND if necessary or suspect remove n wire brush n clean each n every battery and starter and ground connection.

John T

(quoted from post at 14:56:36 04/19/19) I have a 1949 John Deere m and the starter quit,not even a click. Have anyone out there rebuilt one? Tips? Thank you. Vern

Click to expand...

Had the same issue last spring on my JD 50, thought it had to be the starter. Got some good advice on this board, ended up being a bad ground from the battery. Once I figured it out it was a quick easy fix. As mentioned above check every connection and ground before you do anything else, good luck

Presuming the battery is good, check the ground cable first for a good, clean connection on both ends of the cable/strap.

Check the other battery cable to the staring motor on both ends for a good, clean connection.



Using a test light, check for power at the starter switch.



If there is power to the starter switch, then remove the starter switch.

Take a look at the diagram below.



Note the terminal stud (Key 38).

<font color="#ff0000">[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]CAUTION: MAKE SURE THE TRACTOR IS OUT OF GEAR.

MAKE SURE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED OFF.[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>

With the tractor out of gear and the ignition switch turned [b:654c4848f0]OFF[/b:654c4848f0], touch the batter cable to the terminal stud on the starting motor.

If the starting motor turns over, then the starter switch may not be making contact with the terminal stud.

Either the contact terminal on the starter switch may be worn out or the terminal stud on the starting motor may be worn out.

If the starting motor does not turn over, then remove the starting motor and have it tested and/or repaired.

We have replaced several terminal studs on starting motors on our tractors.

Hope this helps.