2N will not start.

[peewee37]

I have a 1947 2N that runs great. I hadn't run it for a month or two, and it always started up just fine. I went to start it today and nothing. I took the battery off and made sure it was charged up, and when I press down on the starter button I don't get anything. I took the starter button off and it looked like it had a plunger and no wires attached to it. How does it work and could that be at fault. Thanks for any help

 

[Jim.ME]

I have a 1947 2N that runs great. I hadn't run it for a month or two, and it always started up just fine. I went to start it today and nothing. I took the battery off and made sure it was charged up, and when I press down on the starter button I don't get anything. I took the starter button off and it looked like it had a plunger and no wires attached to it. How does it work and could that be at fault. Thanks for any help

Welcome to the forums.

Maybe these two pictures (borrowed from the web) will help clear things up. This shows what at least some 2Ns had. The actual switch is located on the engine end of the lower steering gear housing. When the transmission is in neutral the plunger on the bottom of the transmission mounted push button aligns with a hole in the transmission interlock which allows travel enough for the button to push down on the lever (this may be what you are calling "a metal c shape"). The lever pushes the rod forward to push on the starter switch button to close the contacts in the switch. A common problem seems to be wear in the linkage causes lack of enough travel to operate the switch. A fix used by some is to JB Weld a nickel on the starter switch push button (not the push button by the gear shift). HTH

 

[peewee37]

Thanks for the pics. I unscrewed the push button by the gear shift lever and that is what I saw.

 

[peewee37]

Where would you use JB Weld on the push button? Does the push button come apart? Thanks

 

[Jim.ME]

Where would you use JB Weld on the push button? Does the push button come apart? Thanks

To be clear this would be on the push button of the starter switch not, the push button by the gear shift. I believe they put it on the end of the Button right where the rod pushes on it to lessen the clearance between the rod and push point.

 

[peewee37]

Maybe a stupid question, but are the connections for the wires for the starter button exposed and could you tap the ends with a screwdriver to make a connection and start the tractor? I would have to wait for warmer weather to tear things apart and see what I have.

 

[Jim.ME]

Maybe a stupid question, but are the connections for the wires for the starter button exposed and could you tap the ends with a screwdriver to make a connection and start the tractor? I would have to wait for warmer weather to tear things apart and see what I have.

To be clear, the starter push by the gear shift lever has no wires connected to it. The starter switch has the wires and is located on the front of the lower steering gear housing, which you should see a bit further back from the back of the engine, if you jump it there or apply power direct to the stud on the starter, make certain the tractor is in neutral before trying such.

 

[Eman85]

You say you took the battery off and made sure it was charged, what voltage battery and how did you check it? Did you clean both ends of both battery cables?

 

[HFJ]

Maybe a stupid question, but are the connections for the wires for the starter button exposed and could you tap the ends with a screwdriver to make a connection and start the tractor? I would have to wait for warmer weather to tear things apart and see what I have.

they are exposed, but iirc, you're not going to bridge them with a screwdriver. there's a blob on the switch in the way i think.

if you know how to do so safely, jump directly to the starter motor. the last connection you make should be to tractor ground. do the hot leads first, then connect to battery ground, then lastly, connect to tractor frame for final ground point.

edit: and make that connection to tractor frame (ground) the first thing you disconnect when you're done. attaching/removing jumper cables can cause sparks. sparks at batteries can cause boom.

 

[Eman85]

Maybe a stupid question, but are the connections for the wires for the starter button exposed and could you tap the ends with a screwdriver to make a connection and start the tractor? I would have to wait for warmer weather to tear things apart and see what I have.

No stupid questions. Be double sure the tractor is in neutral and or block the clutch down before jumping anything.