Ford 1700 starting problem

[JM2022]

Hi All,

I have a 1979 Ford 1700 4wd. Was bush-hogging and tractor began to lose power and eventually stopped. I was low on diesel and may have run out, but not sure. I did refill, but when i turn the key i have no lights, no action on the starter. Battery is 12.8 v.

Last year i had a similar issue - turn key, no lights, no action. Eventually replaced the battery cables and started up, ran great.

With a multimeter, i have 12.8 v at the ignition, also at the starter from the battery, even at the starter when i turn the key - but nothing moves. I put a jumper cable from neg battery directly to engine block and got lights, starter slowly turned over, but not enough to start. Jumper cable was hot after a few tries. I replaced the starter solenoid thinking that might be the problem, but same result.

Any ideas what i should try next?

thanks

 

[Roadworthy]

I'd begin by cleaning battery terminals and connectors. Inspect for corrosion on the cable side of the connectors. Replace on battery and tighten SECURELY. Follow ground lead to frame. Clean, inspect, and tighten. It sounds like this was your problem. Connect voltmeter to your battery and observe while somebody cranks the tractor.

 

[Tinhack]

Clean both ends of the battery cables and where they mount. Sounds like you found the problem--Bad ground.

 

[JC-jetro]

I start with battery and bad ground like the other gents mentioned. Normal needle on temp gauge should be on max high. As soon the key is put in pre-heat or ignition then then needle goes all the way to cold. That is the indication of part of the circuit is okay. The oil pressure light should illuminate at that point. one major thing to also look at is the neutral safety switch. if clutch pedal is not pushed in all the way you will not get juice to the starter. that switch is a normally open switch and closed upon pressure on the clutch, can temporarily jump it for inspection of the switch. what happens when you turn the headlight on when the key is switch?

 

[JM2022]

I start with battery and bad ground like the other gents mentioned. Normal needle on temp gauge should be on max high. As soon the key is put in pre-heat or ignition then then needle goes all the way to cold. That is the indication of part of the circuit is okay. The oil pressure light should illuminate at that point. one major thing to also look at is the neutral safety switch. if clutch pedal is not pushed in all the way you will not get juice to the starter. that switch is a normally oen switch and closed upon pressure on the clutch, can temporarily jump it for inspection of the switch. what happens when you turn the headlight on when the key is switch?

i will try cleaning the battery cables. I did disconnect the ground and connected a jumper cable from the battery neg to a bolt on the engine block. This lit up my gauges and the starter will turn over, but not enough to start the motor - very 'chunky'.

 

[JM2022]

Clean both ends of the battery cables and where they mount. Sounds like you found the problem--Bad ground.

Thanks - why wouldn't the jumper cable produce enough juice to start the tractor though? Does that indicate i have more corrosion at other connections?

 

[jaxs]

Thanks - why wouldn't the jumper cable produce enough juice to start the tractor though? Does that indicate i have more corrosion at other connections?

The short answer is because jumper doesn't make sufficient contact and/or doesn't have ample capacity. Just do like the man said and clean things up.

 

[JC-jetro]

i will try cleaning the battery cables. I did disconnect the ground and connected a jumper cable from the battery neg to a bolt on the engine block. This lit up my gauges and the starter will turn over, but not enough to start the motor - very 'chunky'.

What are you using ( Voltage source) to jump, using the jumper cable? another battery, car or truck? You can put a ground a bit closer to the starter if you have some good bare metal. Not all jumper cables are equal based on the wire gauge, lengths and type of grippers on the end. With battery disconnected you can one by one at a time clean and put back all the cables to starer like positive terminal and solenoid connection. Before you start see what voltage you get at the starter positive terminal and closest ground. if you have someone monitor the voltage using a meter and it goes very low when you attempt to starts , say 7 or 8 volt then the battery might not be good. Any part store can do a load test on the battery for a free and it take just 10 seconds.


PS. I like wire brush an a dremel to to clean the contact surfaces. Oxidation is not always rusty looking like on aluminum. I like to shiny it up , put them together and dab a a thin layer of grease on contact to keep it from future oxidation.

 

[JM2022]

The short answer is because jumper doesn't make sufficient contact and/or doesn't have ample capacity. Just do like the man said and clean things up.

ok - I followed orders and it worked! Took a wire brush and sanding paper to the area under the neg ground. She got plenty of juice then and eventually fired up once i bled out the lines. Thanks for the help!

 

[JC-jetro]

Nice, glad she is up and running!