Starter Motor Question?

[edkedk]

I have a Ford YT16H that is a bear to start. I've already replaced the starter motor, battery and checked all my electrical connections. On a good day I can get it to start by adding my pickup battery, with jumper cables, in parallel. On a bad day nothing will work. I'm having a lot of bad days! I even tried applying the battery directly to the starter motor. All I get is one feeble turn on each connection or key turn.

Has anyone tried adding a 6 volt battery in series with the tractor's 12 volt battery to get more oomph? I know on old 6 volt tractor conversions to 12 volts everyone says just use the 6 volt starter with the 12 volt battery. It won't harm the motor and give it more torque. I'm not sure these small 12 volt lawn tractor starter motors will survive an additional 6 volts. Any inputs and suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[Travelover]

I'm wondering if your ignition timing could be off. Can you pull the plug wires and see if it cranks faster?

 

[oldnslo]

I have a Ford YT16H that is a bear to start. I've already replaced the starter motor, battery and checked all my electrical connections. On a good day I can get it to start by adding my pickup battery, with jumper cables, in parallel. On a bad day nothing will work. I'm having a lot of bad days! I even tried applying the battery directly to the starter motor. All I get is one feeble turn on each connection or key turn.

Has anyone tried adding a 6 volt battery in series with the tractor's 12 volt battery to get more oomph? I know on old 6 volt tractor conversions to 12 volts everyone says just use the 6 volt starter with the 12 volt battery. It won't harm the motor and give it more torque. I'm not sure these small 12 volt lawn tractor starter motors will survive an additional 6 volts. Any inputs and suggestions will be appreciated.

Does this motor have a compression release mechanism that is not working?

If you pull the plugs will it spin over freely? Does some gas shoot out of one of the plug holes? Some models of engines where made where if the carb float stuck open it will allow gas to run into the engine and create a hydraulic lock situation.

I would start looking at other features since it sounds like you have covered everything electrical.

Roy

 

[edkedk]

I have tried, as suggested in above posts; pulled plug wires, no change; pulled plugs, no change. In both cases I get only a slow, single partial rotation with each voltage application to the starter motor. This is the same characteristic as before. Since no one seems to know the effect of over voltage application to the starter motor, I think I will give it a try. If you see smoke coming from the west it's probably my motor.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I have tried, as suggested in above posts; pulled plug wires, no change; pulled plugs, no change. In both cases I get only a slow, single partial rotation with each voltage application to the starter motor. This is the same characteristic as before. Since no one seems to know the effect of over voltage application to the starter motor, I think I will give it a try. If you see smoke coming from the west it's probably my motor.

I guess you don't have much to lose since the system isn't working as it is. It sure seems like there should be a better solution if you have a new starter and a new battery. Have you checked voltage when you are running the starter. If your voltage drops much below 12 volts, you have an electrical problem elsewhere.

 

[955Lincoln]

I have tried, as suggested in above posts; pulled plug wires, no change; pulled plugs, no change. In both cases I get only a slow, single partial rotation with each voltage application to the starter motor. This is the same characteristic as before. Since no one seems to know the effect of over voltage application to the starter motor, I think I will give it a try. If you see smoke coming from the west it's probably my motor.

If it still turns slow with the plugs out one of 3 things are happening.

1) Motor is binding up
2) New starter was smoked
3) Batteries that you are using are not in good condition

I would measure the voltage right at the starter while cranking. That would give a clue as to the condition of your batteries and jumper cable.

edit: slow typer, Iplayfarmer has the voltage covered

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks for backing me up Lincoln. To the OP, I think what we're trying to say is that adding an additional battery is like putting a bandaid on a heart attack. There's a problem somewhere, and the right solution is to find the problem and fix it.

How easy is it to spin the engine by hand? With the plugs vs. without?