Errrrrr--rrr---rrr--- click: Battery? Solenoid? Starter?

My M was outside and not started in a few weeks. Tried to start her on a cold, rainy day. The engine tried to turn a couple times with a couple puffs from exhaust, when i decided to stop because the battery needed to be charged.
The temps dropped into the teens by the time i put the battery back on, the ammeter needle flicked, but all I got was a click when I hit the starter button. Then needle quit moving, but still got the click. I thought I could start her with a jump from the truck, but still only clicked.
My dad and his buddy say the battery is no good, but shouldn't the jump from the truck have started the M?

thanks

I would say you have a selonoid problem. The jump from the truck should've at least rolled it over and started her. I would take a wire and jump from one side of the selonoid to the other and see if it rolls over. If it does it is a bad selonoid. I have seen mine stuck a time or two and tapped on the selonoid and got it going.

I just thought of something else too, The starter may be stuck from rolling over and stopping with low voltage. Try to roll the engine back by hand or rock the tractor in gear with another vehicle. I have had that happen too. good luck

Loosen the starter and it will free up. Tighten it back in and it will work for a while. It needs a clutch type (different new) starter drive from Steiners Tractor, or CaseIH dealer. JimN

If a battery is in decent shape but just run down (out of charge) a jump can still get a tractor going but if a battery is really really bad like an internal short, even a jump may not do the trick. Let a shop load test it for you !!

The first thing I would do is remove, clean n wire brush n reattach EACH AND EVERY battery and starter and starter switch and ground cable and connection and with a good charged battery or a jump or both see what happens???

If she still refuses to crank Id do like Jim n others mentioned and check for a mechanically stuck/jammed starter by loosening it and/or rocking the engine n see if it un jams.

If its not jammed and the battery and alllllllll cables n connections are good, next Id suspect either:

1) The starter switch is bad (like if its a stand alone push switch up on the pedestal which you can use jumper cables to by pass jump around)

2) The starters external copper post (under the switch ifffffff it has a mechanical saddle mount right on the starter switch) is worn down

3) Finally if its not stuck and NOT a switch problem and all cables n battery n connections are good, the starter itself may be bad.

If it has any working lights turn them on and observe if they dim way down badly when you try n start it?? If so Id suspect a stuck/jammed starter or a bad starter (like a shorted armature etc). If the lights dont dim down then Id be more suspicious of a staretr switch problem although the starter itself could still be bad like worn brushes..

Check the cables n connections then see if its mechanically stuck/jammed n go from there

John T

I agree with Jim. The starter is hanging on the flywheel. One of my 300U does it all the time. Until you get it fixed, leave it in high gear when shutting it down then let the clutch out just as its quits, that will move the flywheel away from any problem teeth.

My 300U usually does it when the battery is low.

A jump won't work if you've got a bad connection, either.

First thing that you need to do is shine up all the connections and make sure you've got a good ground.

Those replacement battery post clamps will get loose too, the wires corrode underneath the clamping plates.

The fact that you had roll-over before you removed the battery tells me that it's more likely a bad connection that you disturbed when you disconnected the battery.

thanks guys. i got a list of things to try here, so i know what I'll be up to this weekend. That's why I love this website -- it's like having a bunch of in-house consultants, without any of them being on the payroll!

Thanks again.

All good tips regarding rocking the tractor in high gear. My H does that frequently, even had the starter "rebuilt". One good sign it"s not the battery is when I put the lights on they shine bright and motor will not move; not even a solenoid click.

Rock the ol" girl very hard while in 5th gear, switch OFF. It should break loose. Another good way, but slower, is to start turning off the two nuts holding starter to casting, and you should hear a click (turn off the rock and roll so you can hear the click) which is the starter gear releasing from ring gear.

I can almost always make the lockup happen on purpose...just hitting the starter button half-heartedly so the starter turns just a little bit, then when you hit the starter again it will lock up. When I hit the starter "like I mean it", no problem.