Noreaster in Progress, Ford 1710 Won't Start

[Oldtoad]

Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance (PPPPPP). Marine expression I got from the kids, 2 were in the Crotch.
So, last night, in preparation for the ongoing storm, checked fuel level, decided to start and push snow banks back a bit, tractor would not start.
New battery, this year, ran good all summer.
Cranked slow, so, ran the charger, now the solenoid just clicks after a full charge, will not turn over.
Maybe the starter is bound up in the ring gear. Ideas?

 

[ruffdog]

Check battery connections....both ends.....remove and reinstall.

 

[jaydee325]

If cleaning the connections does not fix it, I'd have the battery load tested. I just had a year old battery go bad! I've also seen new ones that were bad.

 

[joecdeere]

remove and clean ground connection to tractor

 

[Thomas]

Least you got L4310 for back up.

 

[RickB]

1710 ground cable is bolted to the radiator support? A bad idea that has gotten worse overs the years. Clean the connections and hopefully you can make it run. When the storm passes get a generic 1 gauge or 0 gauge generic battery cable long enough to attach the chassis end to a starter mount bolt.

 

[workinonit]

Will it jump start?

 

[Oldtoad]

At the start of the storm, was not thinking of blocking the way by dragging the tractor, still snowing/sleet here.
A ground to the starter mounting bolt sounds pretty good.
Certainly will clean the connections and check the battery. Thanks guys.

 

[ruffdog]

Sometimes they just crimp the wire to the cable ends without soldering. It doesn't take much corrosion to ruin the amperage flow.

 

[Oldtoad]

Least you got L4310 for back up.

Funny you mention that, decided to put down 130 ton of gravel on the driveway and compact it rather than buy a plow for the Kubota.
Figured the Ford always starts and it has a plow. Pushing a long driveway with a bucket is no fun.
Plow guy showed up yesterday, said he would be back this morning, bet he broke down, day is a wasting.

Sometimes they just crimp the wire to the cable ends without soldering. It doesn't take much corrosion to ruin the amperage flow.

Words of wisdom spoken here.
Thanks, again to you all.

 

[Oldtoad]

Replaced the battery, checked the book, had a smaller battery than called for.
Replaced the cables, ground to motor.
Parked near an outlet, block warmer is easy to use.
It took a couple of days, getting slow, don't care if I cannot go out in that subzero sandblast of ice.
Happy camper.

 

[Industrial Toys]

No Diesel will start if it doesn't spin over at enough speed.

Tried to start an old MF 265 the other day. Also sitting in these many weeks of below freezing cold.

Tractor had been plugged in and charger on battery. Cranked over slowly and then starter solenoid started clicking.

My take on it. And I learned this ever so clearly with my Electric Gator. Batteries loose their ability to deliver current in the cold. My batteries are almost new, and even when fully charged, you still see the difference temperature makes. And it's gradual. Anything less than 10c or so, and you start to notice the difference in performance. Maybe a battery warmer/blanket is the answer.

 

[metalbender]

Battery blanket will do wonders. From -38 Sask.

 

[Oldtoad]

In regards to the battery in the Ford 1710, 'You can't get there from here.'
Got to be a little smarter and get out of Dodge, get to AZ before the big freeze every year.