Starter issue

[pokitisme]

I took the starter off my Farmall H. Not sure what year something like 32 238. Got the starter fixed put it back on and now it will not engage the flywheel.. the engine is not locked up I was able to crank start it the other day.

[Eugene]

More information needed.

Does the starter turn? Over running clutch not engaging? Professionaly rebuilt?

Battery, cable/terminal condition? Voltage drop between battery terminals when starter switch engaged? Voltage drop tests?

[pokitisme]

Yes the starter turns and it I just had it repaired at a electrical place. The engine does turn over as I said I was able to hand crank it and get it started. The only thing that happened was after having the tractor for maybe a month or so the battery post on the starter came loose and I had that repaired and supposedly the starter is in good condition now. It could possibly be bad batteries that I've been using. But I have not tested that part yet

[Urbish]

Are you sure you don't have positive/negative switched at the battery? Your H is probably positive ground (negative to the starter lug). The starter won't engage if it is spinning the wrong way.

[Gary Dotson]

Switching battery cables has no effect on the starter, it will still turn the same direction.

[Eugene]

Bench test the starter. Place/secure starter in vise. Good 6 or 12 volt battery and jumper cables.

One battery cable to starter case making good contact. Other battery cable touch the starter terminal lug/post.

Starter should turn and the over running clutch spring forward and turn.

[Jeff Silvey]

Great folks giving you great info. keep us posted. Good luck.

[pokitisme]

Yes the starter has been bench tested. When the starter is on the tractor. It sounds like it is trying to engage the flywheel but grinds a little bit at the end of the clutch spring cycle as you guys call it. The tractor is a key ignition. I turn the key and it did start before. Then one day it started having starter issues. There was no starter sound. I took it to a electrical repair shop they fixed the battery terminal on the starter it had broken loose. I brought it back hooked it up to the Tractor I turn the key you can hear the starter moving the clutch Ford but it sounds like it's hitting the gears on the flywheel but for some reason not connecting up with them. The flywheel does not look damaged as I have hand-cranked the flywheel in a complete circle looking at every section there is some shine on the teeth altice appear to be in the same angle. My cousin who owns a small engine repair shop in Holden Missouri told me that the batteries I'm using might not have enough juice to actually turn the flywheel or something I don't know. He's been busy LOL I know that most of the batteries I am using are very weak. When trying to bench test with any of those batteries I could not get the starter to work when I bench tested it with my truck battery it worked fine. On the tractor any one of those batteries will make the starter operate but it could be a battery issue

[Jeff Silvey]

I had a 56 cub with a weak 6 volt battery. So I had a 8 volt sitting close. It turned over a lot quicker. So I would say its your battery. Good luck.

[Eugene]

Voltage drop between battery terminals when starter switch engaged? Voltage drop tests?

Internet has number of instructional videos on voltage drop tests.

The tests can usually be conducted at no cost and will disclose electrical problems such as a weak battery.

Harbor Freight has inexpensive digital multimeters, usually less than 6 dollars.

[oldfarmkid]

Another thing about batteries. When you place a volt meter across the battery posts while it is just sitting there (at rest). If it is a twelve volt battery it may read 12.5 volts and you may think it's a good battery. But it is always best to test a battery while under load (spinning your starter). So you need to have a volt meter across your battery (under load) with starter spinning. If your battery is good your volt meter should read 10.5 volt dc for a healthy battery. If your battery has a very weak cell it could read 8 volts dc or less ( bad battery). Not enough voltage or current to spin the starter and engage the flywheel. It's always a good idea to get, as has been wisely said, at least a cheap multimeter, select DC volts and watch a youtube on how to use it.
Makes life easier when you can take something invisible (voltage) and make it visible (volt meter digital read out).

Good Luck

[Jameshmyers]

Put in a new ignition switch and replace / test the battery, but first clean all terminals and connection points. Typically when I’ve had this problem it’s been poor contact.