ford 1900 turn key and all it does is thump once

[jameshust]

I have had this 1900 sitting for about a year. I decided to get it up and running again. I replaced all fluids and cleaned everything out and up. hooked up a new battery and tried to start it up. It would not turn and made a thump sound... I looked in the peep hole located on the clutch side of the tractor, only to find rusty wet stalactites. My question is. Am I in trouble, and i what should i do next??

james

 

[Willl]

Try turning it over by hand to make sure your not fighting a lockup.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Welcome to TBN. Make sure the trans is in neutral. Roll the tractor a little to make sure.If that is ok, Try turning the engine manually with a socket on the front of the crank. Make several revolutions. If it wont turn then I would remove the injectors and try turning the engine over manually.If there is any fluids in the cylinders this will pump it out. After you get it to turn over manually the try with the starter. If it isn't in a warm area I wouldn't do anything untill I thawed it out.
Bill

 

[Gary Fowler]

By your description I am thinking it falls in line with a discussion here a few days ago on storing your tractor with the clutch blocked in the depressed position to keep it from rusting to the flywheel. You may try blocking the clutch down and putting it in gear then rocking it back and forth or just try dragging it forward and back to break it free. If it has only been setting a year, then it is unlikely that the engine would be frozen up, but anything is possible.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Oh, if it moves freely with the clutch depressed and in gear, then it is not the clutch frozen to the flywheel and is likely the pistons frozen to the block, then you would need to get some lubricant to the top of the pistons like liquid wrench or WD 40 and let it set for several hours and try to rock the tractor back an forth or turn the crank with a wrench working it back and forth till if is moving freely. Then you can try your starter again.

 

[RickB]

Could easily be a bad battery cable or dirty/loose battery cable end connection. Bad connection between the starter solenoid and the starter itself. A stuck clutch isn't going to cause the problem if the transmission is in neutral when the start is attempted. It is unlikely that your engine is seized. Stick a bar in the inspection hole and bar the flywheel over to prove the engine is free. Then go to work on the electrical.

 

[MikeD74T]

When first turning any engine with the potential to have liquid in a cylinder turn it backwards toward an open exhaust valve to give the liquid a place to go. This is done commonly in light aircraft that have gravity fuel systems & horizontal cylinders. MikeD74T

 

[jameshust]

thanks everyone for your expertise. I have hand turned the engine and bared the flywheel,as suggested. The flywheel was rusted pretty bad. well, with that said. I am still getting the thump when i try to turn the enigine over. I took the starter out and will get it tested. other than that, I have no clue what it might be....... any suggestions would be much appreciated.. thanks

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Will the engine turn over by hand.

 

[jameshust]

yes, the engine turns over by hand.

 

[6sunset6]

Make sure the battery ground cable has a tight clean connection to the frame and the terminal connections are clean and tight . check the lugs on the ends. Make sure they are tight and don't wiggle on the cable.

 

[jimmysisson]

So are you saying the engine won't turn with the starter at all? If that's the case maybe the starter drive is kicking in (the thump) but the motor doesn't have the oomph to turn the engine? Weak battery, poor connections you've done. (Right?) Absent a mechanical change in the engine, the starter seems the best line of attack. Any report of its condition?
Jim

 

[jameshust]

well, i heard the sweetest sound today. I still can't beleive she still runs so well. thanks again for all your help.

 

[dqdave1]

So what was the problem?

 

[jameshust]

well, to be honest I am not sure.. For starters it felt as if the starter wasn't staying engaged. so I had that tested. The guy at napa said it was shot. so i went to new holland to see if the starter was under warranty. they tested it and said everything was fine. I put the starter back on the tractor. I flushed out the engine with diesel to get out any water, cleaned all the glow plugs. cleaned all the connections and grounding, barred the flywheel, then crossed my fingers ( seriously). it just worked past the thump noise it was previously making. I have started it a few more times after that, all with no hesitation.
so, maybe the starter, connections just needed some deserved attention. I m not sure

 

[jimmysisson]

Sounds like you cleaned a few wire connectors that needed it. Not simple, but cheap!
Jim

 

[ComputerGuy]

I had a similar problem with a Ford 1910. I thought the start was going bad. I tried it again on a cloudy day, and I saw something out of the corner of my eye. Got a helper to try starting it while I watched the starter, and saw a shower of sparks leaping from the battery cable connection to the starter. Tightened the connection, and now it cranks just fine!