Well........I cleaned up all the connections, hooked wires together. I could hardly touch the ground to the battery as it arched/sparked, no way could it be attached. It looks to have even melted a corner of the battery post. I assume the problem sits with the starter? Checked battery to tractor ground, 12.8 V. Thanks for the help.
john in la
Well-known Member
No spark with both wires connected to battery and wire disconnect from starter.
That means the wires are good and not shorted to ground.
The problem is your starter is toast as it is shorted to ground.
This in turn welded the contacts in the solenoid together.
You already have a new proper solenoid on the way and I feel confident telling you the starter needs replacing also.
That means the wires are good and not shorted to ground.
The problem is your starter is toast as it is shorted to ground.
This in turn welded the contacts in the solenoid together.
You already have a new proper solenoid on the way and I feel confident telling you the starter needs replacing also.
Thank you so much for all the direction and information. I've owned this old tractor for about 15 years. It's a real peach, just a work horse. It has it's other issues, leaks oil, I have to bleed air occasionally out of the pump to get the 3 point to work, but it will run forever on a tank of gas. Has never failed to start until now. I'll let you know how things turn out. Thanks again, a great forum!! Terry
After looking closer at the wires I've decided to replace it all. They checked out OK but the insulation on the starter wire is pretty bad. I'll be replacing both leads off the battery, ground and lead to solenoid, and the lead to the starter Should they all be the same gauge and if so what is the proper gauge to use.
john in la
Well-known Member
For 12v battery cables some may say 2 gauge
You could probably get away with 6 gauge
But personally I would use 4 gauge on a diesel.
The cables you have on there now look to be 4 gauge.
If you need to get deeper than that the charge wire from the generator/alternator all the way back to the solenoid (yellow wire in your picture) should be 10 gauge.
Everything else can be 14 gauge but I use 12 gauge because that is what I have on hand.
You could probably get away with 6 gauge
But personally I would use 4 gauge on a diesel.
The cables you have on there now look to be 4 gauge.
If you need to get deeper than that the charge wire from the generator/alternator all the way back to the solenoid (yellow wire in your picture) should be 10 gauge.
Everything else can be 14 gauge but I use 12 gauge because that is what I have on hand.
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