electrical grimlin on 8N

[gtreasur]

I have an 8n with an electrical grimlin i need help tracking down. It started with the starter going out on it. I replaced it and everything was fine. I was installing a loader on it and was bumping the starter and it went out again, i replaced it again and this time nothing, not turning over, nothing. I replaced the distributor, points, plugs, plug wires, notta. I noticed that the amp meter was not reading a positive charge as it should ( even though i have 12.5V at the starter. If i take the starter off, remove battery, then put it all back, then i get a slightly positive readind on the meter as it should. As soon as i hit the start button i hear a spark like sound and the amp meter immediatly goes back to zero. I don't see anywhere it could be shorting out except the start button itself. Does this sound like it could explain what is going on? Thank you for your help.

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 11:43:09 05/15/09) I have an 8n with an electrical grimlin i need help tracking down. It started with the starter going out on it. I replaced it and everything was fine. I was installing a loader on it and was bumping the starter and it went out again, i replaced it again and this time nothing, not turning over, nothing. I replaced the distributor, points, plugs, plug wires, notta. I noticed that the amp meter was not reading a positive charge as it should ( even though i have 12.5V at the starter. If i take the starter off, remove battery, then put it all back, then i get a slightly positive readind on the meter as it should. As soon as i hit the start button i hear a spark like sound and the amp meter immediatly goes back to zero. I don't see anywhere it could be shorting out except the start button itself. Does this sound like it could explain what is going on? Thank you for your help.

It may be bad battery cables, inside the crimped on ends.

It could also be other corroded, or loose connections.

 

[Dell (WA)]

gtreasur.......I'm certain what you wrote makes sense to you, but my brain is spinnin'. Maybe I need more kauphie???

As I understand, you've replaced yer starter motor twice. And now it won't turn yer engine over so you replaced "the distributor, points, plugs, plug wires, notta"......um? not quite certain why you would do that. Ignition system has 'nuttin' to do with starter motor.

You write......."I noticed that the amp meter was not reading a positive charge as it should ( even though i have 12.5V at the starter. If i take the starter off, remove battery, then put it all back, then i get a slightly positive readind on the meter as it should".......um? Why would you have a positive charge reading at yer amp-meter iff'n yer engine ain't running??? You are DISCHARGING yer battery with yer ignition system (about 3-amps) Discharge is always considered to be NEGATIVE reading. Sounds like yer 2-terminal amp-meter is wire bassackwards. No it don't hurt yer amp-meter to be wired backwards, just confuses yer eyeballs. It should be obvious that you just need to swap yer 2-terminal amp-meter wires around.

You write......"As soon as i hit the start button i hear a spark like sound and the amp meter immediatly goes back to zero. I don't see anywhere it could be shorting out except the start button itself"......um? You remove and replace yer battery and then you hear a spark and meter quits working. Would you believe yer big thumb starter switch can't pull enuff amps to make a spark??? But yer starter motor shure can. Sounds to me, like you otta be looking at yer battery clamps. Infact REPLACE yer battery-to-solenoid cable. $10 (cheap).......Dell, the woozie

 

[gtreasur]

Thanks, I'll try that

 

[gtreasur]

Thanks all for your replies, I'll try changing the cables and clamps. As you can tell i'm not a mechanic, i just thought if i replaced everything on the tractor i would surely hit on what was wrong.....as you can see that didn't work. Thank you for your help.

Darren.