8N starting issue

[Texas7468]

Bought and early 8N that was 12 volt converted with front distributer, owner said it wouldn't start. Brought it home and got a new battery, found out quick the plug wires were mixed up. Fixed the plug wires and it started right up but wouldn't shut off with key... had to turn off the gas. Figured the three wire key switch was an issue so I installed a new push button ( happy to see no water and pretty clean inside) ...of course it turns over as soon as the cable touches the positive on the battery...its gotta be a simple issue and I'm missing the obvious. I cleaned up the wiring a bit and everything is going where it should .......

 

[old]

Bought and early 8N that was 12 volt converted with front distributer, owner said it wouldn't start. Brought it home and got a new battery, found out quick the plug wires were mixed up. Fixed the plug wires and it started right up but wouldn't shut off with key... had to turn off the gas. Figured the three wire key switch was an issue so I installed a new push button ( happy to see no water and pretty clean inside) ...of course it turns over as soon as the cable touches the positive on the battery...its gotta be a simple issue and I'm missing the obvious. I cleaned up the wiring a bit and everything is going where it should .......

Most likely reason it would not shut back down is the alternator excite wire doesn't have a diode or resister in line with it so the alternator back feeds the ignition and other then that is was most likely working just need the diode or resister

 

[used red MN]

Hello Texas, welcome to posting on YT! New what are often referred to here as “land of almost right” parts are very hit and miss quality wise. Sounds like the contacts are “welded” together by an internal arc keeping the two large terminals in your solenoid shorted together immediately powering the starter when you connect it. Disconnect the small wire on the solenoid. If it still cranks when the battery is connected the solenoid is your problem. If it doesn’t, then you have other wiring that needs corrected. The run on you experienced is likely from an incorrectly wired alternator as the other poster said.

 

[Jim.ME]

Most likely reason it would not shut back down is the alternator excite wire doesn't have a diode or resister in line with it so the alternator back feeds the ignition and other then that is was most likely working just need the diode or resister

Yes, run on is possible if it is a three-wire alternator back feeding via the excite wire, not if it is a one wire alternator. While this is the likely issue, the type of alternator needs to be known to say for sure.

 

[Eman85]

3 wire key switch, not a factory style rewire sounds like a lot of human error.
Are you using the factory starter button with the neutral switch?, I highly recommend you wire it using the neutral switch. Key switch should only control the ignition and if it powers the alternator circuit it needs a light or diode. Does it have an alternator? How many wires are connected to the alternator?

 

[Jim L WA]

3 wire key switch, not a factory style rewire sounds like a lot of human error.
Are you using the factory starter button with the neutral switch?, I highly recommend you wire it using the neutral switch. Key switch should only control the ignition and if it powers the alternator circuit it needs a light or diode. Does it have an alternator? How many wires are connected to the alternator?

Eman85, did you even read his post? He said it has an alternator and that he replaced the starter button.

 

[Non-farmer]

Eman85, did you even read his post? He said it has an alternator and that he replaced the starter button.

With all due respect, he did not say he has an alternator, he simply said he had converted to 12 volts. I can't see the harm in asking for clarification when a tractor misbehaves as this one is doing.

 

[Texas7468]

Most likely reason it would not shut back down is the alternator excite wire doesn't have a diode or resister in line with it so the alternator back feeds the ignition and other then that is was most likely working just need the diode or resister

It had a splice i thought should be the diode and of course it wasn't , replaced the wire with a new diode. Still has the cranks when connected....

 

[Texas7468]

3 wire key switch, not a factory style rewire sounds like a lot of human error.
Are you using the factory starter button with the neutral switch?, I highly recommend you wire it using the neutral switch. Key switch should only control the ignition and if it powers the alternator circuit it needs a light or diode. Does it have an alternator? How many wires are connected to the alternator?

Sadly definitely had some human error, three wire alt it had and push button start i added.

 

[Texas7468]

Yes, run on is possible if it is a three-wire alternator back feeding via the excite wire, not if it is a one wire alternator. While this is the likely issue, the type of alternator needs to be known to say for sure.

With all due respect, he did not say he has an alternator, he simply said he had converted to 12 volts. I can't see the harm in asking for clarification when a tractor misbehaves as this one is doing.

Hello Texas, welcome to posting on YT! New what are often referred to here as “land of almost right” parts are very hit and miss quality wise. Sounds like the contacts are “welded” together by an internal arc keeping the two large terminals in your solenoid shorted together immediately powering the starter when you connect it. Disconnect the small wire on the solenoid. If it still cranks when the battery is connected the solenoid is your problem. If it doesn’t, then you have other wiring that needs corrected. The run on you experienced is likely from an incorrectly wired alternator as the other poster said.

Still cranks with small wire disconnected ....Gonna try a new solenoid, one on it says 12v does it matter 6v vs 12v ? I have an extra 6v in my box of stuff

 

[Texas7468]

Yep!! it was the solenoid, installed new 6volt and it started right up. Thank y'all for your help.
It also has the hi/low shifter , gonna do some reading on that dealer option.

 

[used red MN]

Yep!! it was the solenoid, installed new 6volt and it started right up. Thank y'all for your help.
It also has the hi/low shifter , gonna do some reading on that dealer option.

That’s good to hear, thanks for the report back.

 

[Jim L WA]

With all due respect, he did not say he has an alternator, he simply said he had converted to 12 volts. I can't see the harm in asking for clarification when a tractor misbehaves as this one is doing.

I guess I'm the one that didn't thoroughly read the post. You are absolutely right. My bad.