300U starting issue

I'll try to make a long story short. Bought this tractor last winter and used it over the summer. Had it up here last fall testing the hydraulics on the end transport for the planter and generally getting some tillage and planting stuff ready for Spring and it became obvious that the starter was struggling. I had to attend to my other job, the one that reliably pays all the bills year around, so my better half, who helps me with the wrenching aspects of life, pulled the starter for me and took it to the auto electric place and it was rebuilt. Putting it back on I find that there is what looks like a cutout relay dangling in-line with the battery connection to the starter and it is not fastened to anything. The tractor has no VR so I assume this is a cutout. Starter does not turnover and the battery is good. Time is still a little bit of a problem so I can't get out there to do a lot of testing yet. The question is, should not the cutout be mounted to the frame? Not finding a picture of one in the manuals and no place obvious to mount it. I guess my issues is that I cannot remember if the cutout needs to be grounded for the tractor to start? Hope my meanderings make sense.

Is what you are talking about the starter solenoid? It should have two large bolts. One connects to the cable from the battery and you should also find it has a heavy wire that goes to the dash for light & ignition. The other connects to a post on the starter. If your 300U is original, then you might have a Z-shaped copper strip that connects it the post on your starter. Then there should be a small wire that connects from the ignition switch to solenoid assuming you have the original key switch. And normally this solenoid would be screwed to the starter where it picks up the ground. I had to replace mine on my 300U last year. If your 300U is 6-volt original, it would not have a cut out but a voltage regulator mounted on the right side by the steering arm. Hope this helps. Al

Yes, thanks, it helps to get pointed in a direction to go. I am in the last three weeks of the busiest part of the year for the money job so it is hard to even get out there and look at it but I was hoping to get it moved out from in front of the house. i don't know a lot about starters which is why I have them done instead of trying to learn something new. Maybe it is the starter solenoid. Shiny silver can, looks just like the cutout on an old N Ford but, now that you mention it...could be what you are talking about too. Maybe I am losing it (no maybe about it) but I don't remember this thing on any of the other tractors around here.

OK...many thanks! I was working on a stupid assumption and went blindly in the wrong direction. I see it in the parts book and it is pretty clear that what I am looking at is the starter solenoid. I will have to figure out where it mounts. I appreciate the help.

Dave, If your starter is original, it should mount right on the starter with two small screws. I could send you a picture tomorrow of the one on my 300U but I don't have access to it right now. The parts book picture should be of help to see how it mounts. Al

I think I'll get it OK but will post back if need clarification. She says she would have left the screws in the holes. Hopefully the shop did the same. Not real happy with those guys. This tractor is an older restoration and they blasted and then painted the starter black and silver then pasted their labels all over it. If I cannot figure it out I'll post back. Thanks so much for the help.

Hi when we had a 300U many years ago, the starter was always prone to jamming in the ring gear and the only way to unlock it was loosen the starter mounting bolts or putting tractor in 5th gear and rocking rear wheel.

JimB