RTU starter options

[dnd]

Hello and thanks for any ideas or help. I have a very early Moline R with the starter that is held in by one large (set bolt??)
Anyway the starter has a solenoid and most of the time when I energize the solenoid i have to tap on the starter with a hammer to make it engage. Today I finally got it removed from the tractor and the bushes don’t appear to be worn too bad. Wondering if anyone makes a replacement starter for something like this or should I try to find new brushes and see if I can take it apart and replace and then re assemble.
The local guy that was around reach has passed and I have no idea where to turn. It would be great if I could find a replacement. The Decol Remy number is 1107025. I saw there was a brush, spring and bushing kit on eBay. Thoughts and suggestion.

 

[Ill John]

Hello and thanks for any ideas or help. I have a very early Moline R with the starter that is held in by one large (set bolt??)
Anyway the starter has a solenoid and most of the time when I energize the solenoid i have to tap on the starter with a hammer to make it engage. Today I finally got it removed from the tractor and the bushes don’t appear to be worn too bad. Wondering if anyone makes a replacement starter for something like this or should I try to find new brushes and see if I can take it apart and replace and then re assemble.
The local guy that was around reach has passed and I have no idea where to turn. It would be great if I could find a replacement. The Decol Remy number is 1107025. I saw there was a brush, spring and bushing kit on eBay. Thoughts and suggestion.

 

[Ill John]

I'd take it to an automotive rebuilder, these are very common parts. If no rebuilder available, take it apart, make sure the area where the brushes ride is clean, if it needs brushes, replace them. Could be it sat so long that the brushes have developed a film, for lack of a better word, and need cleaning themselves.. Lastly the solenoid may be on its last leg. Make sure you have 12v or 6v at the solinoid on the small terminal when you turn the key to start. Hope this helps, if not, try to find an older guy with some experience before you throw parts at it.just my opinion

 

[Alan K]

Hello and thanks for any ideas or help. I have a very early Moline R with the starter that is held in by one large (set bolt??)
Anyway the starter has a solenoid and most of the time when I energize the solenoid i have to tap on the starter with a hammer to make it engage. Today I finally got it removed from the tractor and the bushes don’t appear to be worn too bad. Wondering if anyone makes a replacement starter for something like this or should I try to find new brushes and see if I can take it apart and replace and then re assemble.
The local guy that was around reach has passed and I have no idea where to turn. It would be great if I could find a replacement. The Decol Remy number is 1107025. I saw there was a brush, spring and bushing kit on eBay. Thoughts and suggestion.

You may have a bad connection on the solenoid. Tapping the starter may make it connect enough. Generally the solenoids are the problem.

 

[MMDEL]

First off an early R wouldn't have a solenoid. someone must of updated it.. So take a good heavy set of jumper cables and hook direct from the Baii to good ground and put the hot cable direct to the post on the starter. In other words bypass the solenoid to see if the problem is the solenoid or the starter. sounds like you have the starter off so just put in a vise or on the floor with your knee on it to hold it down and keep it in place. Usually when you have to rap the starter to make it work the brushes are not making good contact. Brushes don't need to be replaced till they are worn close to the holder. Check tor weak springs.squirt a little penetrating oil where the brush arm pivots. If there is a lot of arcing when it spins the comutator needs to be trued up in a lathe.

 

[Alan K]

First off an early R wouldn't have a solenoid. someone must of updated it.. So take a good heavy set of jumper cables and hook direct from the Baii to good ground and put the hot cable direct to the post on the starter. In other words bypass the solenoid to see if the problem is the solenoid or the starter. sounds like you have the starter off so just put in a vise or on the floor with your knee on it to hold it down and keep it in place. Usually when you have to rap the starter to make it work the brushes are not making good contact. Brushes don't need to be replaced till they are worn close to the holder. Check tor weak springs.squirt a little penetrating oil where the brush arm pivots. If there is a lot of arcing when it spins the comutator needs to be trued up in a lathe.

Might be a later crankcase perhaps, since it has a one bolt mount like the ZA?

 

[dnd]

Thanks for the wealth of knowledge and sharing of experience and tips. Here’s what I have. Model RT Serial 400855. There is one bolt that holds the starter in secure to a two bolt part that is bolted to the flywheel housing frame flange. Removed starter and then took to bench. Removed the two long bolts which hold the starter together. Marked location on end cap. Removed rear end cap which the brushes after I removed two short machine screws. Looked over brushes and they appeared to have plenty of brush on them. Sprayed with PB blaster so springs and pivot moved freely. Pulled off end cone with bending, polished up end cap bushings and shafts. Re installed shaft and then end cap. Getting the brushes back on was a bit of a challenge but “ once I figured out the right way to hold my tongue everything slipped back together”. LOL,,, put starter back in and left sheet metal covering off. Engaged starter and lots of sparks and arcing on “comutator”… THANKS. Guess we need to remove and take to a shop to have it trued up.. Am I missing something or is there something else I should be aware up. Thanks again…

 

[molinegb]

Bench test before installing. Commutator will spark if not clean. Light oil or light grease on bushings. PBs blaster has to be cleaned out with something that leaves no residue. Should be able to spin by hand. A later R or Z, U starter will also work as long as 6v.

 

[MMDEL]

Check to make sure the full width of the brush is making contact with the commutator and the brushes are not backwards. If that is OK take it apart again, make sure there are no segments lose on the commutator. If there are no starter gen shops near you any machine shop or someone with a metal lathe can true it up for you. In any case do not under cut the mica between the segments that is where the copper on copper gets it;s lube. ( on a Gen they need to be under cut, the lube is the brush.) Make sure they have a good sharp cutting tool so it does not smear the copper from one segment to another and short it out.