NEED HELP: Ford 601 Workmaster won't start

JoeTractor1

New User
I'm new to tractors but I can manage repairs if I know what to repair. In brief, I have a ford 601 Workmaster. It has a new batter, new oil and filters, and I repaired the leaking fuel shutoff valve. It was running good. I was then using it off and on throughout the day, leaving it turned off but leaving the fuel valve on, turning it back on every 20 min or so. I then was driving up a small incline. Parked it. Turned it off. I went to restart and it would just go click, click, click, every time I pushed the start button with the key on. I first thought it would be a failed solenoid. I was close to the garage and pushed it in and I turned off the fuel shutoff valve.

The next morning I tried again but no click sound. I realized I left the key on overnight and I also realized this shouldn't be done. I thought that I might now have an issue with my key switch, coil, points, sparkplugs, etc... I looked at the points and condenser and they look new (I recently bought this tractor). I let it sit another night with the key off. The fuel valve was still closed.

Today I checked again and I noticed the air intake tube to the carburetor was bent. I went to straighten it and about 1/3 gallon of fuel spilled out.

Wow, I have too many issues and I don't know what happened. Can anyone suggest where I should start first. The battery does have full charge. My inclination is that I first had a failed solenoid but then I damaged by switch and or condenser/coils? But why would I have all that fuel in my air intake tube - would it be because of excess choking when I was trying to start it 20 times?

This post was edited by JoeTractor1 on 09/24/2021 at 05:10 pm.
 
#1 check and make sure the oil is not over full and mixed with gas.
#2check and make sure the battery is fully charged
#3 Check the spark it needs to be a good blue white that will jump a 1/4 inch gap or more.
After those are checked and made sure are all good and it still doesn't start you could have a carb problem and or a stuck float in the carb
 
Relax. Start with the obvious. Are the
battery post clamps tight? A loose cable
will cause your starting problem.
 

I did check that. They are tight. I think I need to solve the starting issue first. When I pull choke and push button - I now have zero sounds not even the clicking. What would be the remedy for leaving key on overnight?
 


Battery terminals. There is much more to them than tight. They must be shiny inside the connection both terminals and posts. The cable ends where they go into the terminals need to be clean corrosion free and shiny and tight.
 
It is a new battery and new cables. This was an issue when I purchased it and I replaced everything. Battery charge is at 12V so I don't think this is a recharging issue.
 
If all you get is 12 volts on the battery it is discharged!!. A fully charged battery will be 12.6 plus volts anything less it is not at full charge. And by the way just because it is new does nt mean it is good
 
Make sure the chasis ground is clean and tight.

Your carb float level must not be correct if there was gas n the carb inlet tube or you tank valve
isn't closing completely.
 
Agree with Jerry/MT that ground could be loose or dirty at either
end. Clean and tighten both. After that, you might want to crank
engine with spark plugs removed. Anything spray out? Then
clean and reinstall plugs, and see if it will start.
 
You said, After that, you might want to crank
engine with spark plugs removed. Anything spray out.
Yes but you forgot to say , DO NOT turn the ignition switch on while cranking it over as a spark with wires laying could cause a fire if it spews any gas out.
 
I posted images. Connections are clean. Oil doesnt have fuel in it. Still push button and no sound or action
mvphoto82292.jpg


mvphoto82293.jpg



This post was edited by JoeTractor1 on 09/24/2021 at 08:01 pm.
 
With the key on over night the battery is dead. Charge it with a battery charger Positive to positive, Neg to Neg. When it is
charged it should read 12.6 to 12.65 volts across the terminals. When running at 1/2 throttle or more ot shpuld be 14 .2 volts to
14.6. Jim
 
That ground where it bolts to the tractor doesn't look to be very good since it sits on a painted area so very poorly grounded. I ground at the bolt that hold the starter on if I can
 


Time to get your meter out and see where you have voltage and where you don't. That won't help with a slow crank but it will get you past the no click.
 

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