TE 20 starter

[Ivan in Mich]

I have a TE 20 and had the starter rebuilt about 10 years ago. It does not get used much so probably has 50 hours on it after it was rebuilt. I let my son take it to use and it sat outside at his place for the last 2 years. I always kept it in the barn. I went and got it a weeks or so ago and it started right up.After I got it home I went to move it inside and it would not engage the starter. I am getting power to the starter but it won't roll the starter until I run a jumper wire to it then it will roll part of the time. I have got a good ground and haave checked all the wire connections. Yesterday I took the starter off and hot wired it and it will work part of the time. Any ideas of what could be wrong with it? Could it just be dirty from moistue? I plan on taking it apart today and cleaning and lube it up anything else I should check? Thanks Ivan
 

[John(UK)]

It will be the starter switch on top of the Clutch Housing under the battery position. You may be able to adjust this by slackening the 4 small bolts and push it forward and then re-tighten the bolts. If that doesn't cure it then you need to change the switch, these are available from this site..John(UK)...fergusontractors@hotmail.com
 

[phil(va)]

You say you took the starter off and on the bench it only turned the starter gear part of the time? Has to be inside the starter in that case I would think, unless i misunderstood. A likely culprit might be the connection inside the case to the bolt on top of the starter. Sometimes people turn/tighten the top nut on that bolt without holding the underneath nut and that turns it inside which breaks the connection in the case.
 

[Ivan in Mich]

John the swich was the first thing I checked and it was good. I checked the starter over today and it has a lot of endplay and when I put power to it if it worked it would spin real slow. My stud for mounting the hot wire is on the endcap and not on the side. Thanks for everyones help. Now I will have to see if it can be rebuilt. Ivan
 

[John(UK)]

The stud being in the end cap is the later type. What can happen is that the stud insulation where it passes through the end plate gets burnt with the heat due to a bad connection. It maybe that if you can repair the insulation where the bolt is, the starter will work again, but of course it could also be the coils are damaged in some way.Due to heat generated they become unsoldered. Brushes are another thing that wear and stick in the holders. if you need anything, just email me....John(UK)....fergusontractors@hotmail.com