Starting question

51 Ferguson TO30. All original 6 volt system. New battery 6 months ago. Fully charged today.
It has always turned over very slow, even for 6 volt. Battery cables need changed out to proper size, and positive ground relocated to the block.
Question, it gets hot and smokes from the starter switch on top of the transmission, after cranking for 20 to 30 seconds. Only the stud going to the battery gets hot. The battery lead going from the starter switch to the starter never gets hot at all.
Any thoughts on what is happening and the fix?
Thank you, John
 

Heat is a product of electrical resistance , there must be a joint that looks good but isn't .
If the '' stud going to the battery '' gets hot then that is the likely culprit .
 
(quoted from post at 14:37:03 11/18/17)
Question, it gets hot and smokes from the starter switch on top of the transmission, after cranking for 20 to 30 seconds. Only the stud going to the battery gets hot. The battery lead going from the starter switch to the starter never gets hot at all.
Any thoughts on what is happening and the fix?
Thank you, John

If not the connection, it may be oxide on the actual switch contacts. I do not use the the original switch. I have an old fashioned floor starter switch from the 1950's(or a floor high beam switch). When I first got the tractor it would crank incredibly slow. Took me a while, but replaced the switch and it would turn really fast.
 
Months ago I cleanup all the contacts with a wire brush and sandpaper EXCEPT the all metal strap that connects behind the dash this is the positive wire. Today I also noticed that the all metal strap that connects to the dash has only about half the width of it that connects to the battery terminal. Obviously this needs replaced. Would this lead to the negative wire going to the starter switch to heat up?
I'm planning to get a longer wire and ground to the block by the starter mounting bolts.
Other thought are to replace the starter button on the transmission as I have adjusted it forward and back to maybe help with better starting. No adjustment helped. Could this be contributing to the problem?
Lastly I could pull the starter and make sure the block and mounting flange are clean.
I know absolutely nothing about electrical laws and physics.
Thoughts?
 
(quoted from post at 17:12:33 11/18/17) the switch on the trans do go bad

If your ground wire is still connected to the dash, get rid of it fast. Worst design decision Harry ever made, Get a new heavy wire, at least 0 gauge, and bolt it to the engine, preferably.

The starter switch is likely still a problem, but they can be removed and serviced. Or put in a new one.
 
You have found the problem!

The contacts are dirty, oxidized, or out of adjustment.

Or there is a bad connection where the battery cable connects to the switch.

Heat or smoke is always the first place to look for electrical problems.
 

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