How to test Starter?

[dpski]

Hello all,
Been happily using my 53 Super C without issue for some time now until the last time I tried to start it and the starter would not do anything, I mean nothing, no buzz, click or spin. Never had an issue with it in the past, always worked like a champ.

I was able to hand start the tractor. Was researching various posts here at YDT and tried a few things.

Removed and cleaned the saddle starter switch, little worn, but appears to still make solid contact, cleaned the contact surfaces as best I could.

Battery is good, in the 6.22 volt range.

Tried taking some heavy duty automotive jumper cables and connecting the positive terminal of the battery directly to one of the main mounting bolts of the starter.

Even tried removing the saddle starter switch and using the negative cable from the auto jumper cables, connected one end to the neg terminal on battery and touched the other end to the copper stud on the starter housing where the saddle switch would make contact, nothing.

Also tried touching the negative terminal battery cable directly to stud on starter housing, nothing.

Did the same with a 6v battery charger connected to the battery at 2amp, 12amp, and the 75amp jump start settings, most I ever got was spark on the stud on the starter housing.
Took starter out, gear in decent shape. Some mouse house crud came out of the gear housing, spins o.k., not super easy, lubed the shaft a little bit where it’s supposed to spin out and engage the ring gear, a little easier after that.

Ring gear is intact, as mentioned about I can hand start the tractor and the spot where the starter was supposed to engage the ring gear, teeth are fully intact.

Took band cover off rear of starter, didn’t see any loose connections. Commutator still has a copper color too it, not sure what else I should be looking for?

I’m guessing I must have some internal break in the windings or short somewhere inside it, but I don’t really know what to look for or how to check it?

I can bring it to a rebuilder, but didn’t know if there was anything else I could check before I do that?

Thanks

 

[Janicholson]

Brushes get stuck in their holders, or pivots. Taking the armature out of the end frame and testing the brush action may be next. A starter has less than one ohm of resistance from the input stud, to the frame. If it shows infinity, or hundreds of ohms, it is internally open. Jim

 

[old]

With it off the tractor hook the frame of the starter to a battery and then hook a cable to the starter pad and see if it spins over. If it does not leave it hooked up and tap on it with a hammer and watch where the brushes sit. If when you tap on it you see a spark or it tried to spin then the brushes are sticking or wore out

 

[todd hamilton]

To my dad's chagrin I rebuilt a starter on hs instead of just exchanging at parts store. I performed your test on a work bench not considering the torque of the starter after installing new brushes in it. It spun so good it rolled over three times before rolling of the bench and cracking the housing. My dad laughed his head off!

 

[old]

Ya guess I should also say have it clamped down or have one foot on it. One of those things I do not think of since I know they can be sort of jumpy if good and you try to test one