White 1370 Won't Start - Clicks but doesn't turn over

[farmermaker]

Here's an annoying problem for y'all. Our White 1370 with the 3.5 fiat engine sometimes won't start. When the starter switch is turned it makes a click/thud but doesn't turn over. It starts everytime first time in the day but as it heats up it sometimes won't start.

Here's a short video

Almost like it's not getting enough juice.

Thing is...

We have a new starter, a new battery and good/clean connections between them.

Where should I look next?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like that tractor. Identical to our Universal 445, just probably a bit better made.

Does the starter solenoid click?

The answers to these same questions always get back to how much do you know and what resources do you have?

Battery connections? Although I hate people to touch good battery connections only to make themselves new grief down the road.

 

[farmermaker]

I like that tractor. Identical to our Universal 445, just probably a bit better made.

Does the starter solenoid click?

The answers to these same questions always get back to how much do you know and what resources do you have?

Battery connections? Although I hate people to touch good battery connections only to make themselves new grief down the road.

I know it's a vague question. I'm desperate to resolve this and we certainly can't afford a mechanic. I own the parts and service manuals and a multimeter but I don't have a lot of experience with testing connections.

I always hope there's some common problem that is easily rectified but this tractor is starting to show it's age so it might not be so straight forward.

I recently brought the cables in to be looked at and they replaced the + post connection. They thought the cables look good otherwise.

The starter clunks more than clicks. You can hear it in the video if you crank the volume. When I tried to hotwire the tractor, the starter spinned really fast but it the gear did not jump out to engage with the flywheel.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Did you ever have the new starter working?

Just from what you say, it almost sounds like the starter.

It should clunk. That is the solenoid, and should engage the starter gear to the flywheel, AND have a heavy set of contacts that connect the battery live terminal to the starter motor to turn it on and spin.

You could put your meter on the starter solenoid conact, one and then the other, while you try and crank and see what happens to the voltage. You should see battery voltage 13 or so volts on the solenoid terminal from the battery and if the starter worked, you would see that go down to some lower value when cranking (voltage drop). You should see nothing on the solenoid temrinal that ties to the starter, except when cranking. It will be lower than the battery voltage but I am not sure how much. Probably less than 10 or 11 volts and it won't work.

HINT: Taking starter circuit/battery terminal, readings without a starter load is almost meaningless.