Super A starts as soon as I connect the battery

1950SuperA

New User
Hi everyone,
I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving. I am new to this site and looking for any advice with an issue I?m having. My 1950s super A has been running well for the last couple years but earlier this year I had to replace the battery and the alternator. While doing that I replaced some wires that were bare. I installed the alternator and as soon as I connected the battery, the engine fired right up. While it?s running I can hear the starter spinning the entire time. I went back and ?unhooked? the wires I replaced and still it fires right up as soon as the battery is connected. I thought it may have been the ignition switch, so I replaced that and no changes. If anyone has any idea why this is happening I would really appreciate any advice or ideas on what to troubleshoot. I will try and upload a picture of the wiring if that would help. If any other information would be helpful, please let me know and I will do my best to provide it. I am new to tractors and not really sure what to do at this point.
Thanks so much!
Adam
 
Your tractor was originally equipped with a mechanical starter switch operated by a "pull rod".

From your description of your problem, I'm going to GUESS yours has been changed over to a solenoid. Is that correct?

Also, you said it has an alternator, so the electrical system would have been modified quite a bit from original to make those two features function, therefore, a factory wiring diagram isn't going to be of much use.

You'll have to show us some photos, and/or draw out the wiring as it is for us to look at.

On the other hand, if it has the original pull starter rod and a magneto, it would act as you wrote if the mechanical starter switch is welded "closed" or otherwise damaged.
 
Sounds like you have at least 2 problems.
#1 the ignition wire is hooked up such that when the battery is hooked up it has power to the coil which it should not have.
#2 the starter saddle switch if it still uses on is stuck in the down position so it spin out when you hook up the battery. Or if it has been redone and it has a solenoid then the solenoid is stuck in the start position or you have a wire hooked up wrong on it.

Time to trace how it is wired up. Wire from the coil should go back to the ignition switch the side that is hot only when the switch is turned on
 
Hi Old,
I appreciate the more response. I have tried to sketch out the current wiring as well as take a video, but I?m not sure either of them will help. I?m not the best artist. If there is any other details I can provide, please let me know. Thanks so much!
Adam
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Hi Bob,
Thanks for the response. I have taken some pics and tried to sketch out the current wiring. I hope this helps, if not I can try and provide any additional info that may help. Thanks again!
 
The solenoid looks brand new. Did you just replace that as well, or is it the same one that has been working properly before you changed the battery and alternator? If so what brand and part number is it? I ask as while solenoids may look the same, the circuitry internally can be different. The system is hooked up 12 volt negative ground, correct?
 
Does it have a mag or is it a distributor type ignition???
You sy it spins over as soon at you touch the battery cable to the battery. I see you have a solenoid it maybe bad or even hooked up wrong. Some solenoid have a battery and a starter side and if mixed up can cause odd problems.

If it would help send me an e-mail and I'll send you my home phone number so I can maybe talk you threw things
 
Hey Jim,
Yes sir, I replaced the solenoid earlier this year and it worked great
until I changed the battery and alternator. It?s basically brand new,
but it may have gone bad I suppose. I am not sure of the brand
name or part number. The previous one looked pretty worn out so I
just went ahead and replaced it. It worked for several weeks until I
had the alternator and battery issue. Do you recommend replacing
the solenoid? I believe it is hooked up correctly, but I can check and
make sure.
Thanks
 
(quoted from post at 11:19:32 12/03/19) Hey Jim,
Yes sir, I replaced the solenoid earlier this year and it worked great
until I changed the battery and alternator. It?s basically brand new,
but it may have gone bad I suppose. I am not sure of the brand
name or part number. The previous one looked pretty worn out so I
just went ahead and replaced it. It worked for several weeks until I
had the alternator and battery issue. Do you recommend replacing
the solenoid? I believe it is hooked up correctly, but I can check and
make sure.
Thanks


Did you ever tell us if it has a magneto or a distributor?

As to the solenoid, remove the green wire from the small post on the solenoid and connect the battery cable again.

(PLEASE wear eye and face protection, if it cranks there will be a spark at the battery post, and batteries can and do explode.)


Does it still immediately crank? If so, the solenoid has failed.
 
If you replaced the battery due to it being weak and you tried to start it that can cause the solenoid to get real hot and weld it self up so it is now bad due to the weak battery. BTDT too many times over the years.

Since you said it had been working up till you changed the battery the solenoid has to be wired the right way. You can also try what Bob said and take the small wire off and then hook up the battery and if it spins that equals a bad solenoid
 
I removed the green wire and reconnected the battery. As soon as I
did, the tractor started up.
I guess this means I need to replace the solenoid? Thanks for the
help with this issue. I will try and get a new solenoid in the next
couple days and see if that fixes the issue.
Thanks to everyone for all the help and advice!
Best,
Adam
 
(quoted from post at 13:10:33 12/03/19) I removed the green wire and reconnected the battery. As soon as I
did, the tractor started up.
I guess this means I need to replace the solenoid? Thanks for the
help with this issue. I will try and get a new solenoid in the next
couple days and see if that fixes the issue.
Thanks to everyone for all the help and advice!
Best,
Adam
hack the solenoid with screwdriver handle and it will probably release.
 
Hi JMOR,
I was just given the same advice from someone else on the forum. I
will try and give it a whack and see if that works. Thanks for the
advice, I appreciate it!
Best
Adam
 

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