Relay ???

jeremy in NE · Dec 8, 2015

I have a relay on a little cih tractor that I am questioning. It is the relay for starter and safety neutral switch. If I give the relay a tap with the pliers it will start up a few times and than quit starting until I tap it again. Can a relay be faulty like that??

Greg K · Dec 8, 2015

May well be the relay, or check the actual connections on the relay. Either one could be the issue

Bob Bancroft · Dec 8, 2015

It seems that we have forgotten how, or are more likely too cheap, to build anything with contacts that work. I'm having issues with the power relay in the cab of my Magnum Tractor. It clicks, but the contacts won't carry a load. I can be going across the field under full load, turn on the cab blower, and the tractor totally shuts down! The relay I just replaced is not very old. Voltage regulators are another item which are junky, I suspect for the same reason.

Ted in NE-OH · Dec 8, 2015

Could be dirty relay contacts

Andy Martin · Dec 8, 2015

If it is the relay, you may be successful taking it apart and cleaning it. A mechanic did that for me on a Honda A/C relay. He just cut the sealed box apart and cleaned the contacts. I've done a lot of "try it and see if it'll work" repairs but had never tried to open one of the little black boxes. Pretty simple and pretty good repair. I used it a few weeks until I could buy one, but it was working fine. I was out of town and had no tools so I took it to a shop. He didn't want payment so I thanked him.

Bob Bancroft · Dec 8, 2015

I just did that with the not very old relay I mentioned below. Not dirty at all, but I think inferior, or incompatible metals in the contacts. I put some electricians grease in there. It's on the shelf if the replacement acts up. OEM relay is about $60, I found an identical looking one on line for 1/2 that.

Mark - IN. · Dec 8, 2015

Relays are mechanical contacts that have a tendency to carbon up or burn over a period of time. Believe it or not, some older parts stores still carry small points files and if you're real careful and as someone else mentioned, if you can open it, you just might be able to clean the contacts. Small points files do work, but they can over do it and cause problems if you're not careful and take the contacts down too far. Try a pencil eraser to clean them off. Use a rag then to make sure you get the rubber film left by the eraser off too. Remember type writers? Seriously. When they were around there used to be ink erasers for typing that looked like pencils, sharpened like pencils, but had white brushes on the other end to clean up with. Those work real well if you can find one. They're more abrasive than a pencil eraser and won't leave a film, and are far less abrasive than a file so they don't tear stuff up. If you can find one of those guys, good deal. I have several unopened that I found at my local auto parts store for the old gas magneto tractors. They are good, good, good.

Mark

Mark - IN. · Dec 8, 2015

They still make these guys, they can be found, mostly on line. These are perfect for old distributor or magneto caps that get dirty and are hard to find replacements for. What do you do when you can't get a replacement cap and the cap is in good shape but the contacts are dirty? Use one of these to clean them. Sharpen them in a pencil sharpener and use them. Keep them in the tool chest. They work very well and clean relay contacts too.

jeremy in NE · Dec 8, 2015

Thanks guys. I will try opening it up. If I break it oh well

M-MAN · Dec 8, 2015

Why not just go to advance, orilies, or napa and pick up a new one? They're less that $20.

FBH44 · Dec 9, 2015

I should NOT be giving advice here, but I have found that PB Blaster will clean up / uncorrode / free up / un-stick / lubricate / remove-moisture from a lot of electrical parts, switches, etc. Might help if you can get some PB inside there. I have also found that new $100 bills have a slight amount of friction, will act like slight small files for points. [ Will not hurt my feelings if you tell my I'm full of it, I freely admit it, I may very well be. ]

Relay ???

jeremy in NE

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Greg K

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Bob Bancroft

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Ted in NE-OH

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Andy Martin

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Bob Bancroft

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Mark - IN.

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Mark - IN.

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jeremy in NE

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M-MAN

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FBH44

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