Starter problem?

37 chief · Apr 6, 2020

Ihave a MF 203 with what I thought was a starter problem. I hooked cables to the starter. It didn't turn the tractor motor over. I removed the starter. It bench tested good, and ran good with jumper cables I reinstalled the starter, still did not turn over the 3 cyl Perkins. The jumper cables got real hot, like a direct short.I thought the motor was froze. Removed the starter again. Turned the motor over with the flywheel. I know the motor isn't stuck. I got rained out before I could do anything else. The only thing I noticed was the ring gear was a little chewed up where the starter engages. Starter small gear extends like it should, when the starter motor spun. I always thought a starter either works or it doesn't. Any thoughts? Stan

SVcummins · Apr 6, 2020

Time for a new starter Stan

Keith Molden · Apr 7, 2020

Just a thought but I've had it happen to me before. Remove and really clean the ground cable where it attaches to the tractor. I have an AC WD that gave me fits for a couple days because of that. You can also check it with a multimeter and see if you have good continuity and voltage at the battery and starter. Also if you have replacement terminal ends on your cables, check for corrosion and clean both the posts and terminal ends. Keith

Steve@Advance · Apr 7, 2020

Jumper cables are not a good test.

Check all your connections, be sure the battery is fully charged, try it again.

Put your volt meter across the battery posts, not the cable ends, the posts themselves, try the starter. If the voltage drops to near zero, the battery is bad.

If the voltage stays high, there is a bad connection. Start moving one test lead at a time, trying the starter with each move, until you find the voltage drop. Feel for hot connections, look for heat discolored insulation.

If the cables jump and get hot, and still nothing, then suspect the starter.

Be careful, it could decide to crank any time during the test.

leroy in ne · Apr 7, 2020

Are the jumper cables heavy enough to run starter under load? You may be fighting small wires that are not heavy enough plus poor connections at clamps causing restive loss which in turn causes heat. Jumper cables are made to supplement a weak battery in emergency situations not replace a battery or totally dead battery in high load situations. John T and other persons trained in electrical theory can explain this much better than I.

pcsaw · Apr 7, 2020

I had a problem similar to that and put a new pos cable on and did the same thing put new neg cable on and it took care of it

Determined · Apr 7, 2020

Poor connection

Worn out brushes

Bent armature shaft

Worn out bushing

A starter often will still spin with no load on it with any of the above, time for a closer inspection.

rlp in Co. · Apr 7, 2020

Sounds to me like the armature is dragging. If it is, you can turn the bushing 180 degrees and it will work like new.

37 chief · Apr 7, 2020

Between rain drops I took the starter apart. As soon as I had the rear cap off, the starter didn't pass the smell test, Field coils looked ok, but couldn't see what was going inside the windings. I took it to be rebuilt today. At least I will have my same made in the US starter, and not something from china. The shop said around 125.00. Will see. Stan

Starter problem?

37 chief

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SVcummins

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Keith Molden

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Steve@Advance

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leroy in ne

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pcsaw

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Determined

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rlp in Co.

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37 chief

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