A Starter Puzzle

Posted by SuperABen on May 06, 2012 at 10:25:11 from (64.203.149.227):

My A has not run in nearly three months. There's a long story there as to why a Farmall tractor lover can't find time to go out and start his A, and part of that includes the reason why I have not taken time to rectify the original problem!

It was originally parked to repair some faulty wiring. The previous owner replaced the generator (6v with relay) to a newer version, still 6v, with a 3 terminal regulator. Somewhere along the way the wiring had been replaced to modify a relay system to a 3 terminal regulator system.

I restored the tractor about a year ago. The engine on this A is perfect mechanically, so I did not perform a rebuild, only a paint job.

~New (previous owner) 6v generator, remake
~New (previous owner) 3 terminal regulator
~Original 4 position light switch
~Original H-4 Magneto
~New (previous owner) wiring to match regulator

After a few months, I noticed the generator was not charging. In the process, I noticed that someone had stacked the "L" load wire on the regulator onto the "Bat" terminal. This was fixed, but when I tested the generator again (engine running) I found that it had no charge. I assume the wiring either burned the regulator or the relay; I have not confirmed that exactly yet.

The next day I went to start the tractor to try another test, but the battery was discharged down to 4 volts. I do have a 12 volt jump start which I have used in the past, so I tried that. Surprisingly, the starter only engaged the flywheel slightly then stopped. I had an extra starter, but it also did, and does, the same thing when hooked up to the tractor. Normally, my 12v jump start will easily spin the engine; it still works fine for my Super A, which incidentally needs more amps to spin than the A.

I have also bypassed the starter switch by jumping to the starter case and the copper terminal, with the same results. Lately, I have tried my 12v jump start straight to the starter, with the generator and 6v completely disconnected, and I still get the same problem.

Obviously, something has gone awry to discharge my battery to 4v overnight, as well as keep my 12v from easily spinning both starters. I also think it is not a starter issue, since both starters have the same problem on this tractor. I hooked up my multimeter and noticed that the jump start discharges down to .5 volts when trying the starter. This may be normal for a 6v, but I would think a 12v would not discharge so low... but I also don't claim to be a electrician!

The only other thing which might cause trouble is a wire I hooked up to ground the kill switch; the switch used to ground itself through me when I shut off the tractor! I attached one end to the knob and one end to the tractor frame. Could this cause trouble, even though I have had this attached for a year with no problem?

Has anyone seen a starter issue like this before? I admit to being stumped! My current solution is coming this week-- a hand crank!

Replies:

• Re: A Starter Puzzle Rootsy 09:15:55 05/09/12 (0)
• Re: A Starter Puzzle gbs 19:15:43 05/07/12 (1)
  • Re: A Starter Puzzle SuperABen 18:07:26 05/08/12 (0)
• Re: A Starter Puzzle El Toro 05:37:07 05/07/12 (0)
• Re: A Starter Puzzle gene bender 05:06:49 05/07/12 (0)
• Re: A Starter Puzzle old 10:59:41 05/06/12 (0)

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