I've been prepping my TO-30 for mowing duties, and while tinkering with it the other night, I went to start her up, and the motor barely turned and then quit dead.(My tractor is fitted with an outboard starter switch mounted just below the dashboard. It has been coverted to 12volts). I tried it several times, but all I got was a thunk or click from the starter. After a time or two, I didn't get that. The battery was dead at this point, so I put the trickle charge on it. Tried it later with a full charge, still nothing, but it was putting a major load on the battery. I removed the battery cables and then jumpered the starter to the battery, and whoa! -- touching the cables was like striking a welding arc. More importantly, the starter motor did NOT turn or attempt to turn. Can the starter be internally shorted to ground? Is this common, or is there something else I need to look at? It had cranked well until last night, but darned if I can figure out what else it would be but the starter. Help and suggestions greatly appreciated! OldKyJim PS - Can you run a 6volt starter on a 12 volt system? Or is maybe THAT part of my problem!?
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