Starter woes
- Thread starter Laser Man
- Start date
- Views: 1718
gwdixon
Elite Member
Could be. But first check and clean all of the battery cables - especially the ground cable.
Another test is to use jumper cables to first check the solenoid. Attach the jumper cables directly to the battery posts (not the cable clamps). Hook the negative to a bolt on the engine. Touch the positive to the solenoid + (hot) connection to see if the starter turns over. If it does then the problem is the battery cables. If it does not then the solenoid is suspect.
While everything above is hooked up, touch the positive to the starter + (hot) connection. The starter should spin. If not then the starter is going. If it does then the solenoid is likely the problem. The solenoid "click" should be it engaging the starter gear but one can't be sure.
Hitting with the hammer may loosen any corrosion in the starter but the shock may cause a poor connection to be able to conduct enough electricity to allow the starter to function.
Anyway, try these tests and report back. Good luck.
Another test is to use jumper cables to first check the solenoid. Attach the jumper cables directly to the battery posts (not the cable clamps). Hook the negative to a bolt on the engine. Touch the positive to the solenoid + (hot) connection to see if the starter turns over. If it does then the problem is the battery cables. If it does not then the solenoid is suspect.
While everything above is hooked up, touch the positive to the starter + (hot) connection. The starter should spin. If not then the starter is going. If it does then the solenoid is likely the problem. The solenoid "click" should be it engaging the starter gear but one can't be sure.
Hitting with the hammer may loosen any corrosion in the starter but the shock may cause a poor connection to be able to conduct enough electricity to allow the starter to function.
Anyway, try these tests and report back. Good luck.
crackerjack222
Silver Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2011
- Messages
- 243
- Tractor
- 4430, Ford 7000, MF235
Here is my WAG: either the contacts on the starter solenoid are pitted/dirty and making poor contact or the contacts on the armature of the starter are pitted/dirty and are not making contact with the brushes. Either fix is fairly simple once you determine which it is. Either repair/replace the solenoid or clean the armature and probably replace the brushes while you are in there. The hammer is just jarring it enough to nake contact. I have done that many times:thumbsup:
reprosser
Member
+1 on battery ground cable. I was having problems with starting and I found the battery ground cable connection was bad - even though everything looked good and tight. There was no obvious corrosion, but when I took it apart for cleaning, the rust/corrosion was there.