SMTA WOn't turn over.

GordoSD · Aug 12, 2008

I guess I was too lucky the other day when the Hfired up, lights generator, everything worked after engine rebuild and complete new wiring harnesses.
So on the the SMTA. New wiring end to end. Battery charged, tested at IH shop, new ground oo cable, new cable to switch/starter.
Pulled the rod, notthing , no click even.
Pulled ignition switch out ammeter shows 5 amp negative. It moves to the right slightly when pulling the start rod.
Voltage at starter switch is 6.5
Turned the engine by hand, it's loose. Pulled the plugs just to lighten the load. Still won't turn over.
Is there some voltage. amperage test I can do to see what the problem is? I did ground the system to the battery box lid because of cable issues.

Gordo

rustyfarmall · Aug 12, 2008

You can turn the engine over by hand so that eliminates the possibility of the starter drive being hung up on the flywheel. What about that saddle mount starter switch?

Steven f/AZ · Aug 12, 2008

In my experience, those saddle mount starter switches can be somewhat picky if they are a bit worn...

I'd take the two bolts that hold it to the starter off and apply voltage directly to the stud on the starter to see if that's the problem.

Bob M · Aug 12, 2008

I agree with Rusty: Most likely it's a worn out saddle switch. Or possibly a dirty/badly worn copper button terminal on the starter beneath the saddle switch.

You might try removing the saddle switch then using a jumper cable to feed the starter power terminal directly from the ungrounded battery terminal (expect a spark!). If the starter engages you've found the problem. (It's fairly common BTW...)

TractormanNC · Aug 12, 2008

Connect the ground to SOLID CAST IRON.

El Toro · Aug 12, 2008

Put that ground cable on the frame and make sure all of the paint and rust is removed to expose bare metal. Clean the lug on the ground cable until it's shiny and make it tight when bolting to frame. Hal

Anonymous-0 · Aug 12, 2008

What about using a voltmeter instead of trial and error guessing?

GordoSD · Aug 13, 2008

I put a spare (longer) ground cable to the trans housing, no luck.
I kind of suspect that saddle switch, because it is a brand new one I installed. I don't hear any click at all when I pull the rod.

The light do go almost totally out when I tried to start with the light on.

Gordo

Eastsider · Aug 13, 2008

Try to bypass the switch to make sure the starter will turn over. My brother had his SMTA rebuilt and the starter wouldn't work. Turned out that the new starter switch we installed was a stamped metal product instead of the original pot metal housing. The old mounting screws were too long and they grounded out the armature. New, shorter screws, and the old girl worked just fine.

SMTA WOn't turn over.

GordoSD

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rustyfarmall

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Steven f/AZ

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Bob M

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TractormanNC

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El Toro

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Anonymous-0

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GordoSD

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Eastsider

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