Starter won’t engage on ford 8n

TomG_253

New User
My 8n starter won’t engage, I can hear a single click from the solenoid but the Engine won’t crank. I just got done replacing the water pump and put everything back together. When I went to start it the engine was turning but it didn’t want to start. After cranking for a while I went to take the key out ( it’s been converted to 12v) and it kept trying to turn over. I didn’t want the battery to die so I crossed over two of the lines on the back of the ignition switch with pliers and it disengaged. I then tried to crank it again and the solenoid just clicked once but nothing happened. Kinda lost hear any help would be appreciated.
 
The solenoid is making a noise because of low voltage. That is likely caused
by:

1. A weak battery (charge it & check it per tip # 49. Or get it load
tested.)

2. Dirty grounds/connections (remove the cables & clean the connections)

3. Bad cables or incorrect sized cables (replace them - see tip # 41)

4. Bad ground between the starter & the block. (pull the starter away from the block & clean the mating area - see tip # 36)

You can ignore all of the above if you have an automotive switch on the tractor and a disabled neutral safety switch. Do you? Because the key switch should have nothing to do with the starter turning over.
75 Tips
 
I just went out to try again and the starter engaged! Not sure why it wasn’t before. Now I just need it to run

But yes I do have a new automotive switch on the tractor. Don’t know if it has a neutral safety but I just cranked it in gear and it was still turning so maybe not?
 
" Don’t know if it has a neutral safety "

That is the large switch on top of the transmission cover, by the gear shift that you push to start the tractor.

If that's not how you start the tractor, someone has bypassed it creating a very unsafe condition.

See tip # 28.
75 Tips
 
Ya Must be bypassed, I’ve never had to use the main switch before..

Any suggestions on if I should try to revert it?
 
(quoted from post at 18:21:43 06/06/20) Ya Must be bypassed, I ve never had to use the main switch before..

Any suggestions on if I should try to revert it?
Henry Ford didn't put anything on or spend one penny more on anything he didn't feel necessary on anything he sold. If they put a Neutral safety on decades before there was any regulations there was a good reason to have one. I would put it back the way it came from the factory.
Getting back to some of your problems I'd say your key switch might be bad and or wired incorrectly. Also a good chance your starter solenoid is the wrong one and or bad also.
 
If the orginial switch is still in place, it is easy to check with an ohm meter. all it does when pushed is that it proved a ground for the wire that comes from the solenoid. A solenoid that works with a key switch is the wrong one, your porbably has two large terminal and two small ones. you need one with two large and one small one. when you ground out the small terminal the solenoid engages. with the key switch type you provdide power to engage the solenoid. would be easy to reconvert it if the push button switch still works.
 

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