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Farmall 400 won't start.....+ ground??

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
Yesterday, I posted a message about a Farmall 400
(gas, converted to 12 volt system) that is completely dead.....won't start. Several have replied to that post with some excellent suggestions.
A co-worker suggested to me that the tractor may still be a + ground system. What would happen if I (thinking the tractor is a - ground system) hooked the battery up as though the system was a - ground when in fact the tractor is a + ground system??
 
Starter does not care which way you hook it up. The starter will still spin the correct way no matter which way you hook the ground. But if it has an alternator its a 99% chance it has to be - ground. I would pull the starter off and take it to an auto parts store and have it checked you may find that it is bad and if so any thing you do will not work till that is corrected
Hobby farm
 
You can try connecting the bat - to + and + to - it shouldnt hurt anything but maybe spark a bit. Starter will run the same direction no matter what the polarity is. If it works then thats great! I would say if he had the battery in backwards like you said in the earlier post then its a good possibility.
 
As old indicates, Hooking it Positive ground with an alternator will burn up the wiring, or the alternator. Conversions are usually to an alternator, Be careful!!! JimN
 
the factory ground is terrible on that tractor. if the ground cable is attatched to a battery box bolt that goes through the bottom into the rear cover, it's likely the culprit. disassembly and cleaning may help, but there are too many connections made with that cable and spacer assembly (my opinion). You could try running a ground cable all the way up to the starter mounting bolt; temporarily with a jumper cable.

also if you have the bolt on battery clamps, throw them away and get soldered/crimped ends. THe bolt on ends are designed to get you home. we've had nothing but battery trouble on machines where bolted on cable clamps are used.

karl f
 
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