641 starter issues

[JLeus]

This is on a pure project 641. Dead and highly abused when purchased and the seller knew no history. 134 gas. Converted to 12 volts. New wiring, alternator, correct solenoid, all cables for battery/starter new, new battery. I got it to a point of completion with those parts (among others but focused on the start system at this time) got it to start and run and gave her some work to find the bugs. Its wired up as designed with the switch on the trans cover showing the secondary circuit in the solenoid ground when asked to start.

One time it was running and the starter engaged. It was at idle and I heard it, shut it off, turned the key back on and the starter was still energized. Off/on a couple times and the condition went away. Thought the old trans switch was bad, got another and went about my way. Was mowing after the new switch and apparently engaged again, smoked the starter this time, didn't hear it. When I turned the key back on from off after seeing the smoke the starter was still energized.

I have gone back through my wiring and I believe it to be as it should be. Checked the solenoid, and it seems ok, continuity between the small posts, no continuity between any post and the bracket.

I can't figure this out. Does it matter which small post is were? Currently wired 12 volt to I, ground to S. Could the key switch cause this?? Would think not, its sending 12 volts to I, if it doesn't get that done its no start at all. I believe the starter to be nearly toast in the first place. The contact point for the brushes is worn smooth. Could the starter create this problem? Any thoughts? Anybody got a decent used starter, I know they are available new. Thanks for looking and any input. Jim.

 

[Texas!]

If you have the equivalent of a Ford 311006 or 311007 solenoid it doesn't matter which small wire connects to which small post or which large cable connects to which large post.
This happened to my 861D once. I started it up and the bendix didn't kick back out of the ring gear. When the starter started smoking I knew something was wrong and shut it off. The starter was fried. Apparently the bendix was bad.

 

[john in la]

Even if the bendix was stuck in the ring gear it would not make the starter crank just by turning the key on.
I would bet your solenoid is bad (sticking on) or you have a short to ground in the wire from the solenoid to the starter push button.

What you should have done to check it is remove the small wires from the solenoid when it was messing up and turned the key on. If it still tried to start I would replace the solenoid. If it does not try to start I would have checked the wires.

 

[wfd2]

I have a very similar problem (see my recent post) where the tractor is engaging the starter even with the ignition switch off. I tested the push button switch and it's ok. There wasn't much left to the starting system so I tapped on the solenoid and it quit trying to crank. I think the solenoid is sticking.

 

[souNdguy]

could be bad wire to thumb switch or sticky solenoid.

easy to test with a meter or test lamp. can use a test lamp as a dummy load and check and see if it comes on when mowing...

 

[Slack]

I got a bad soleniod new out of the box. I put it on the tractor then about an hour later it started turning over on its own!I was lucky it was out of gear or it would have gone through the back of the shop. I smacked the solenoid and it stopped. I took it back to the dealership where I got but they wouldn"t replace it. I bought another and replaced it and haven"t had a problem since. I worry about parking it in gear still though.

 

[wfd2]

Replaced the solenoid and all is fine again. Except for the battery. And what a pain to get to that. Not like the H...