Slow starter

[tnbowhunter]

I've noticed on my tractor that it was getting harder and harder to start. When I would turn the key it would crank really, really slow. I though it was the battery so I even got in the habit of taking an extra battery with me whenever I would use my tractor. Finally the other day it just up and refused to crank at all. I checked all the conections, they all seemed tight.
Great I thought, now i'm going to have to purchase a new starter or get this one repaired. I checked on line and a new starter ran over $300.00 dollars.
Anyway, after I took the starter off [easy job] I figured what the heck, it dosen't work anyway I might as well open it up and see whats going on inside this thing. I took the end off and slid the "armature?" out of the case. I took the other end off which held the brushes. Mine has four brushes. And they all looked good. But everything was all completly gummed up with what was probably carbon from the brushes. I put everything on the work bench and gave everything a good cleaning with brake cleaner. I took a rag and gave the armature a good cleaning paying special attention to the little grooves that go to the individual windings. After I was satisfied everyhing was nice and clean I gave everything a light coat of wd-40, put it back together and headed back to the tractor shed. After a few min I had the starter reinstalled, held my breath and gave the starter a turn. Wow!!!! Marvin has never turned over that fast since I have had him. After seeing all the crud that was in the starter I can see why.

 

[clemsonfor]

i wa going to say are you sure your charging, and not the battery just slowly getting drained, but sounds like you found the problem. Thanks for the idea if we have similar problems

 

[careyo63]

TNBOWHUNTER That was one of the exact same problems I had to over come when I bought my tractor also. been over 2 1/2 yrs and has been working great ever since. 275.00 was the cheapest I found but was leary of it from a man in Mich. new Model style motor I believe. I hit mine with the air and could not believe the Dust and debris that came out of it. It still worked but would Drag and get Hot Quick and was leary of spaying anything in it. Good catch

Carey

 

[chriswheeler]

Cleaning and checking it out are always the first thing to try. If that doesn't work, a rebuild shop will usualy redo your core for around $100. New isn't always necessary to get a good starter.
Chris