MF 35 Starting Problems

At the moment I can�t get it to turn over. (It never is all that easy to start.)

When I turn the key the solenoid picks up and drops out immediately without the starter moving. If I hold the key in the start position it continues to go click click click click click click click click click until I turn off the key.

The first thing that I though might be the problem was a week battery. I checked the battery voltage (the battery is about 18 months old and was showing 14 volts.) I used other batteries and also used the starter circuit of my battery charger but in all cases I get the same click clicking of the solenoid.

I also tried moving the tractor in gear hoping that maybe the starter is jammed. No luck.

Any suggestions would be welcome.

Glen

A fun evening with some satisfaction but no start yet. Here�s an update on progress. Thanks again for all your suggestions.

I�ve got myself in a bit of a bind for time this week and I don�t think I will be out to the 35 for the rest of the week. I have to go out of town on business on Saturday for 10 days and have my hands full until then.

I�ve cleaned and checked that all (I think) connections are tight. I replaced the negative terminal that I was unable to tighten further.

I seem to have a problem with the positive lead. The insulation was damaged at some point (I�ve owned this MF 35 since 2001 and the damage was done before my time) about 16� from the positive battery post and the area was covered over with PVC tape. The tape has come loose and I can see damage and corrosion of the conductor. No sign of burning or arcing to the nearby steel (rubbing / vibration against the steel probably caused the damage in the first place), but no way for me to see if the corrosion has spread significantly into the lead without destroying it. (Your�s might be the one Mark)

I will change this lead.

Ben UK:

I had no luck with turning the key more slowly. Thanks for the suggestion. Sometimes we get lucky and sometimes not.

Sibby:

No luck with a piece of wood and a rubber mallet on the started near the base of the solenoid. If changing the lead doesn�t solve the problem I will revisit this and replacing the solenoid.

Txblu:

Thanks for your explanation of the clicking. Makes sense to me. I believe I have all the connection tight now. Obviously if the lead is not good enough to allow sufficient current past the damage the voltage will not be maintained to the solenoid.

Mark:

I have yet to try directly jumpering to the starter. (on the list to try if replacing the lead doesn�t solve the problem). I may try this before I change the lead, but I haven�t as yet.

Swede:

Cracked Bakkelite (Bakalite is the English term for this type of plastic) is also a possibility. At the moment I can�t see any cracks but the light in the barn wasn�t all that good this evening.

Thanks again to all and I will post how things turn out.

Glen 130

Turns out it was the ignition switch.

Try turning the key really gently and slowly, thats what i do. Then it will go.

IF that is the problem then youll ever get used to it, or get a new switch.

Its still quite funny when a mechanic from our garage cant start the tractor when he wants to borrow it, i come straight up and it fires right up! Especially as im only 15.

Give it a go - you never know.

Ben UK

Find your bad connection in the starting ckt. Shine up all connections and insure the cables are not internally corroded. Don't forget the connections at the tractor chassis including the case of the starter to chassis connection.

A method of finding rather than shotgunning is to either look around the circuit with a voltmeter looking for a voltage drop where there shouldn't be one, or feeling for heat with your hand. The hot spot is where the connection is bad.

Don't blame your engine on this one.

Best of luck,

txblu

As the solenoid clicks strongly I haven�t really thought that it is the problem but it might be.

I will try a few other things first before I start replacing and in any case my dealer isn�t open today.

Glen 130

It could also be a bad earth or a bad battery lead.

Kind Regards
Michael Oakes

I forgot to mention that I checked and cleaned the battery posts and associated lead connections. I checked tightness of the other ends but have not yet cleaned them. I wasn�t also to happy with the �fit� of the negative post lead (the old terminal dosn�t tighten up snug enough for me on the post). Fortunately I have some new terminals (somewhere) and will see when I get out there if I can change that.

Regards, Glen