Help with this unique thing

Folks,

I 'picked' this up in leu of payment for some work. I know it is a John Deere LUC motor [[i:f0219ff4e1]because of some research[/i:f0219ff4e1]] it has a hand crank but whomever built it, failed to leave an opening to use it [[i:f0219ff4e1]thank goodness[/i:f0219ff4e1]] and it has a 12v starter on it with an alternator. The problem is the starter just sits there, in that it has absolutely no mounting brackets. Anyone seen anything like this before? Runs good when I can get enough ground to use the starter. I'm looking for a way to fix the starter issue. Suggestions are definitely welcome.

Also if I'm posting in the wrong spot let me know.

Sorry up date, on this it is all wheel drive, I'll need to figure out what all that came from. Seems like a heck of a lot of chains, gearings alone with a transmission for a 12-16HP motor. But it putts along and nothing stops the bloody thing. Brakes are froze but with all the gearing and such, just putting in the clutch brings you to a stop after 5-6 feet.

I've added some pictures of where the starter is mounted in [[i:f0219ff4e1]on?[/i:f0219ff4e1]] the bell-housing. You'll notice that there is no threaded holes in put 'set screws' in, I can't feel any either. I assume that if this motor had been designated a LA or LC it would have had some holes drilled and tapped. Don't know for sure. Need to do more research.

The tractor was acquired in MN

Sorry for the delay, took a short term mission trip wiring a 6k sq ft building for a boys ranch.

I determined the bracket was not needed, remove it, turned the starter until it was in the right place and tightened the 'set screw' [[i:f0219ff4e1]bolt[/i:f0219ff4e1]] and still there was a problem, it just wouldn't turn over. I pulled the starter, an easy thing to do and the the starter drive spring that disengages the pinion gear is broken. Unfortunately, there is no serial number that I can find on the starter. It is a 12v starter [[i:f0219ff4e1]assuming[/i:f0219ff4e1]] as it has a 12v batt. Any suggestions on the what to be looking for? Looks like I could use a new flywheel ring gear too.























This post was edited by sh0e on 03/06/2023 at 02:33 pm.

Well, I'll be dipped!

I worked for a fellow 30 yrs ago that had one of those engines sitting on the floor in his shop that was going to be the power plant for exactly that kind of a project - an articulated 4WD garden tractor. That was his plan as he explained it to me back then. I didn't maintain contact with him after I left but always wondered whether he completed that project...

Where did you acquire that from?

Unique is correct. If you want help with the starter
mounts some pictures of how it sets by the motor
would be helpful.

Neat!! Job well done for the builder.

That bolt on the side is the set screw. Take it out and the starter comes out.

That 1/4 inch strip of steel is not supposed to be there. Its preventing the set screw from tightning the starter.

That looks like a regular bolt. There is suppose to be set screw with a lock nut on it.

Really neat little tractor! Hope you get it going good.

Thanks for the info. on the location. We're up and over in Saskatchewan, a fair ways from you, so doesn't seem likely that it was built by who I thought. Ironic, though, that it is the exact same design as what this other fellow had envisioned.

Regarding the starter, you could replace the bolt with a set screw long enough to come through the bracket so that you could install a jam nut. The starter needs to be "pinched" by that set screw in order to get a good ground.

The problem is the starter just sits there, in that it has absolutely no mounting brackets. Anyone seen anything like this before? Runs good when I can get enough ground to use the starter. I'm looking for a way to fix the starter issue. Suggestions are definitely welcome.

I've added some pictures of where the starter is mounted in [[i:d358949ab3]on?[/i:d358949ab3]] the bell-housing. You'll notice that there is no threaded holes in put 'set screws' in, I can't feel any either. I assume that if this motor had been designated a LA or LC it would have had some holes drilled and tapped. Don't know for sure. Need to do more research.

The tractor was acquired in MN

Click to expand...

Others have answered your question on the starter. Copy the link below for the JD parts catalog on your engine.
https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/navigation/equipment/75966/level/2/snp/MjI1NTE6Q0hBUFRFUlsxMDYxOiNCVVNJTkVTU19SRUdJT04sMTg0NjojQ0FUQUxPRyw3NTk2NjpFUVVJUE1FTlRd

That starter mounts up like all the Dubuque built tractors, the M-series, 40,420 & 430 series. The setscrew mounting tight would hold the starter OK but often it got rusty and made a poor ground. We ran a ground wire directly to one of the through bolts holding the starter together in addition to the braided ground strap to the chassis in the battery boxes. I worked at a Deere dealership when these tractors were new.

Gene Davis Tennille, Ga.

That's an interesting unit. Looks like a seat/battery box from a later '40s-up B or G. The power unit is what it is, but the drivetrain could be a mystery. The similar '41 LA I had was the goofiest little tractor in the fleet, and it had a 6V electric start.

It might be possible to add a ground strap to the end plate of the starter to remove any doubt of connection, just as Gene Davis suggested.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/JEGS-10295-Ground-Strap/161611185