No power to starter

Tom300u · Dec 31, 2011

My tractor is a international 300 utility.I can"t get the starter to work unless I attach 6 volts directly to the small terminal on the solenoid with a battery charger.I have replaced the following, key switch, solenoid,(twice) wire to small term.(solenoid),I have cleaned all grounds. To make it even more confusing my meter shows 6 volts at the solenoid but it does nothing unless voltage is applied from an external source.
Any suggestions?

CNKS · Dec 31, 2011

I don't remember of the 300 has a push button or just works off the key. If so it could be bad. Remove and clean ALL the connections. The battery cables often get corrosion under the insulation that is not visible. The problem is probably in one of those two places, I doubt if it is the starter. Be sure the battery will hold a full charge, if not replace it.

JRSutton · Dec 31, 2011

Not a fix to your problem - but just want to point out that voltage is no indicator of current carrying capability.

The fact that you see 6 VOLTS at the solenoid only means you have a connection to the battery - it does NOT mean that connection can support all the current that's required to turn the starter.

Voltage means very little (You could stack 4 brand new AA batteries in series and get six volts, but they'd never provide enough current to turn the starter)

Somewhere in your circuit, there's resistance that's keeping the full amount of current (power) from reaching your starter.

If you've cleaned all the connections WELL - including ground connections - I'd try a jumper cable directly from the battery in the tractor to the starter to see if that works.

If not - it means your battery is the problem.

If it does - work back from there using the jumper cables where you can to do a direct link to the next connection in the circuit.

Try to isolate the bad connection.

D Slater · Dec 31, 2011

When you turn the key to start does it stay 6 volts at the solenoid engaging terminal? If so is the charger set higher than 6 volts and more amps? If starter solenoid works starter by jumpimg from battery wire post to the small terminal, problem just about has to be power to switch, switch, switch to small post or solenoid bad ground even though some of those parts were replaced. Not sure if some 12 volt selenoids if used with 6 volt would act like that or not, thats why I asked the voltage and amps of the charger.

rhtx55 · Dec 31, 2011

Replace the small solenoid on top of the starter.

El Toro · Dec 31, 2011

I would install 00 battery cables and don't make them any longer than necessary with soldered ends. Have that battery load tested or check the specific gravity in
each cell and compare the readings. Should see around 1.260 reading. Hal

Janicholson · Dec 31, 2011

THe first test is to take a piece of wire and jump between the big terminal from the battery on the Starter relay (often called a solenoid) to the littl terminal next to it. If it does not start, the big wire may be hooked to the wrong big terminal. If the terminal that is going to the starter motor from the relay is closer to the little terminal it is wrong. If it it correct, (close to the bat connection), and it does not start, I would be amazed. Jim

No power to starter

Tom300u

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CNKS

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JRSutton

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D Slater

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rhtx55

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El Toro

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Janicholson

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