M starting problem

weirdbeard · Sep 27, 2009

I have a 48 M and when trying to start it it will barely roll over. If I continue to hold the starter button down it will start to roll faster and faster then eventually it will start. One friend said to move the ground right to the starter and it might help. Is this true or might it be something else. Is this common, the tractor is currently far away so I can't try something right away but any advice would be great.

Tom Fleming · Sep 27, 2009

I would first try cleaning all connections, that would be the battery terminals, and whater ever the other end of the cables are connected to. Also check to see if your battery has a full charge.

that is where I would start.....no pun intended!

the tractor vet · Sep 27, 2009

That is the way most of the old M's started with a 6 volt system and if it has been rebuilt with the over bore kit and the compression up they can be a bear to start Even with a freshly rebuilt starter and double 00 cables hooked wright to the starter They act like a half dead battery . Now IF it is tuned properly then if you can get it to just make one turn of the fan they will start . Or you can change the system over to 12 volts and be done with it
One other ting here keep in mind that on the OLD 6 volt systems the finer the strands of wire in the cable the better it is .

John T · Sep 27, 2009

I agree with Tom, the very FIRST thing I would do is remove, clean n wire brush, then re atatch EACH AND EVERY battery n starter n starter switch n ground cable connection and it dont hurt if the ground is to a good clean shiny bolt near the starter........ For 6 volt systems ESPECIALLY AN M I recommend 00 gauge battery n starter n ground cables plus the biggest heaviest highest CCA rated batttery that will physically fit and make sure its well charged. I also recommend not to hold the starter engaged a long period but try to milk the pistons up over on compression because a well tuned M should start when a piston comes up on compression TDC. If shes start timed too fast that can be hard on starting also.

John T

Janicholson · Sep 27, 2009

In addition to the fine info below, there is a good possibility that a cell is going dead in the battery. I have had batteries do that. a bad cell will be radically charged up by being put into a high load condition (by the other cells flowing current through them) have the battery tested (hydrometer test)to make sure they are all above 1150 to 1175 specific gravity. If one is low it is toast. Do it before trying to start it. Tell us what you find. JimN

Andy Motteberg · Sep 27, 2009

Unless you are planning on leaving it all original, converting to a 12 volt system is really nice.

M starting problem

weirdbeard

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Tom Fleming

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the tractor vet

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John T

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

Andy Motteberg

Well-known Member

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