(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

6V starter in cold weather

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
We live in Maine & have a 1942 Farmall A that I use from time to time. Last week we had a real cold snap & I had trouble starting it (turned over real slow), so, we pop-started it w/ another tractor. I pulled the 6V battery out & trickle charged it over several days. Today, i put the battery back in & had the same trouble...so, I took the 6V battery out of my 48" H & had the same result (wouldn"t start)....I"ve got 4 tractors w/ 6V systems, the other 3 still start w/ no trouble, this old A is being stubborn (but, it pop-starts almost instantly)...anyone got a guess how to get this tractor to start under it"s own battery? I cleaned the fuel bowl & cleaned my plugs, I"ve got snappy blue spark & good fuel flow. Time to pull the starter & have rebuilt? Like I said, it is turning the tractor over, just real slow...I don"t want to put a 12V in it, becuase once running, it does charge.
 
Check and clean your cable ends very good. Don't take much corrosion to stop 6 volts. If that don't help your sytarter probably needs a goodcleaning and check. Also has it had a tuneup lately?
 
I think you answered your own question.
Its time to have the starter rebuilt.

But double check the cables for corrosion.
 
What weight oil are you using? Also, what size are the battery cables? The small 12 volt automotive size will kill a 6 volt starting system.
 
i'd be leaning to a starter rebuild. if it cranks slow, and the battery and cbles are all clean, the starter is prolly drawing too many amps. check the brushes for wear, and also check the bushings on either end of the armature shaft. if the bushings get wore, the armature gets pulled off center and takes a lot of amps to get it to spin. napa usually has the bushings in stock, or they can order them for you, or you can take it in for a rebuild, usually costs 80 -100 dollars.
 
In addition to the advice below take a REAL close look at the battery cables. Even a cable that looks good on the outside can have corrosion going on under the insulation near the terminals. And this will slow down even a brand-new starter.

Quick check: Energize the starter for 5 - 10 seconds then quickly feel around the ends of both cablex. If anything feels warmer than ambient it's time for a replacement.

Also make sure the starter switch is in good shape!
 
I have another place to check....make sure your starter to block surfaces are clean. If you think about it that is yet another path to ground for your circuit (starter). I had a couple of 6 volt tractors that gave me fits for years. Cleaned all the contacts including the starter to block surface, put on new cables (std automotive 6 guage) and now start easily down to around zero on 6 volt even with the 6 guage cables. Like others have said, just because a cable looks fine does not mean there is a problem hidden under the insulation. No doubt the heavy cables work, but if you have a good battery, good starter, clean bright connections, and good cables 6 volt system will crank in almost any weather.
 

Never mind cleaning the cables, they brake down inside the covering. Put a fresh set on and make sure the ground is clean.

Take the starter over to some place around the house that "rebuilds " them and have it checked. I have had several rebuilt right by the the house. This is a cheaper way of doing it as opposed to buying one threw some tractor parts supplyer.
 
A good way to check for a bad cable is to use a heavy jumper cable along with the cable. If no change, try it on another one untill you find the bad one.
 
I have an M and a C both have 0 or 00 cables get them from a marine supply,TRY IT,don't use any auto cable's all auto cables are for 12v!!ALL of them.I got mine from jamestown dist. out of mass.
 
When I got my SC I had the same problem. I took every wire connection on the whole tractor and checked it with an OHM meter. I found that almost every connection had a little trouble. I took every connection apart and cleaned them. Then I took the started apart and used a wire brush and a can of electrical cleaner and all I did was clean everything inside the starter. In fact it took me two cans of cleaner. I put it together and it worked perfectly just like new. Now I can start it even bellow zero and it fires right up.
I also have a 41 A / 49 SA hybrid that has a Mag but no other electrical stuff, besides a starter. It has only started with a hand crank for the last 30 years that I know of. I took the starter off of it and cleaned it like I did the SC and now it will start with the starter.
To make a long story long, I think you should go through the electrical system, clean it good and take the starter apart and clean it. I think you will be pleased at how well it will work by just cleaning it. Ron
 

Auto cable work fine as long as you get a nice big dia one or lowest # gauge wire. As far as it being 12 volt , that has"Zero" bearing on how it will work. You can run what ever voltage you want threw it.

I live on Lake St. Clair just north of Detroit MI , marine cables are not that differnt other then they tend to heat shrink the ends to help with corrision.
 
I used to live in northern Alberta, Canada where it would get down to 40 below each winter. I'd take my battery into the house where it was 60 to 70 degrees, then when I brought it out, hooked it up, it turned the tractor over like summer time and always started. Good luck.
 
Most of these boys have it right. Make sure you've got #2 cable OR BIGGER! I make my own cables out of #00 gauge welding cable and then solder my own ends on. Even a tough Wisconsin winter last year never kept the H from starting. It always cranked over at a decent speed and started.

Good luck!

Billy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

H
John Deere B won’t start
Replies
7
Views
390
620 John
620 John
P
Cub starter question
2
Replies
27
Views
867
560Dennis
560Dennis
J
Starting 8N problems
Replies
5
Views
304
Jim Phillip
J
P
Fooled again 300 u won't start in the cold.
Replies
16
Views
801
Paul 300 U
P
J
Ih 606 not starting
Replies
8
Views
338
Janicholson
Janicholson
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top