Solonoid intermittent ?

CrosbyFamilyFarm · Oct 17, 2013

My tractor cranks hard to turn over (73 diesel 3550) and I killed the brand new battery over the course of a few weeks. None of my warning lights are hooked up so I'm not sure if the generator is functioning properly, but that's a different issue. So I set it out to trickle charge overnight and hooked it up this morning. I went to start it, heard the click of the solenoid and then a giant spark from under the hood. I can't be sure where it came from because it surprised me so much. I checked my connections, made sure I hooked the battery cables to the right terminals, and didn't find any frayed wires. Then I checked the battery and it's got a full charge. The next couple of times I went to start it, nothing happened. No click or noise of any kind. So I remember a story of my grandfather (Vt farmer) gently rapping his non functioning solenoid with a rubber mallet and it worked. While I realize this may have just been a story, I was at the end of my real knowledge so I gave it a go. The next time I turned the key, I heard the solenoid click and not engage the starter. Now it intermittently will click and not turn the starter.

I guess my questions are... What do I test first? Does this sound like a bum solenoid? Is there a fuse I should be worried about? What would have sparked? Winter is fast approaching and I feel like I'm finding more problems than I fix.

jimmysisson · Oct 17, 2013

I would grab that starter out and take it to an auto parts place for a load test. The hard cranking might be worn starter bushings allowing the armature to drag on the fields. This is assuming you have double checked the cables for soundness. Let us know.
Jim

CrosbyFamilyFarm · Oct 17, 2013

Well today I took a look at the cables and they look like they're in good condition. I took the battery out again and checked all around the engine compartment for where something could have accidentally grounded and made the spark (I'm assuming the only reason something would spark is if it was grounded somewhere). I didn't find anything. I then put the battery on the charger for about five minutes for no reason that amounts to more than voodoo and when I put it back in, I heard the solenoid click again. My next step was going to be to try another battery. I'll take one out of my truck and give it a go tomorrow morning. otherwise, I'll take out the starter and bring it to a shop.

rayikeo2 · Oct 18, 2013

Are you sure you have the battery connected properly with the (POS) and (NEG)? Sounds like they are reversed and causing a dead short when you engage the starter.

CrosbyFamilyFarm · Oct 18, 2013

Yeah I know enough to not do that (though it was my initial fear!). As I was struggling to remove my starter it occurred to me to check the ground post, where the ground line from the battery attached. I switched the line from there to connect to where the starter meets the engine/transmission. Sure enough it started right up. I must have a bad ground in the starter.

When I say "it occurred to me" I really mean that I called the tractor geniuses at Kahn Tractor of North Franklin, Ct. and Kevin threw me a suggestion. Thanks to Kevin (and everyone else here!)