Some starting help needed.

[Dave H (MI)]

I was hoping if maybe I could get some help starting my SMTA. This is a tractor that always starts every year but has not been run since last fall. Battery has been charged. I am able to manually turn the engine over...it is not stuck. I pull out the switch and then pull the starter rod. There is a spark at the positive terminal of the battery but nothing else happens. I do not do this as much as I used to. It seems like this is something basic but I cannot remember what. Could y'all give me a shove in the right direction to get her to turn over? Thanks!

 

[SkipperII]

Maybe clean and tighten the battery cable ends, and all cable connections, then if all fails, probsably the starter. The spark at the positave cable, indicates a poor connection.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

I was hoping if maybe I could get some help starting my SMTA. This is a tractor that always starts every year but has not been run since last fall. Battery has been charged. I am able to manually turn the engine over...it is not stuck. I pull out the switch and then pull the starter rod. There is a spark at the positive terminal of the battery but nothing else happens. I do not do this as much as I used to. It seems like this is something basic but I cannot remember what. Could y'all give me a shove in the right direction to get her to turn over? Thanks!

That spark is a bad connection. No power is getting to the starter. Mark.

 

[560Dennis]

Take a paper white business card and swipe it vigorously over close contact point to remove the contramination. The white card should be cover white with a black oxide .
Spray some crc contacts cleaners on them ,give that try . Clean the rotor button and distributor contact with point file .
Try a spark plug tester on the plug wires to spark plug ,should get it to jump 3/4 of an inch . Some of what I do in most cases like that.
Make sure your on off switch is working .

 

[used red MN]

I pull out the switch and then pull the starter rod. There is a spark at the positive terminal of the battery but nothing else happens.

Positive battery terminal!
This points to the ignition??

Take a paper white business card and swipe it vigorously over close contact point to remove the contramination. The white card should be cover white with a black oxide .
Spray some crc contacts cleaners on them ,give that try . Clean the rotor button and distributor contact with point file .
Try a spark plug tester on the plug wires to spark plug ,should get it to jump 3/4 of an inch . Some of what I do in most cases like that.
Make sure your on off switch is working.

???
I think I agree with making sure the battery terminals are clean and tight on the battery post. Clean to me is 85 percent of the contact surfaces between the post and terminal are cleaned to shinny lead.

 

[grandpa Love]

The starter is stuck in the ring gear. Loosen it,it will pop loose.

 

[used red MN]

The starter is stuck in the ring gear. Loosen it,it will pop loose.

That’s a good thought, that possibility slipped my mind.

 

[55 50 Ron]

I was hoping if maybe I could get some help starting my SMTA. This is a tractor that always starts every year but has not been run since last fall. Battery has been charged. I am able to manually turn the engine over...it is not stuck. I pull out the switch and then pull the starter rod. There is a spark at the positive terminal of the battery but nothing else happens. I do not do this as much as I used to. It seems like this is something basic but I cannot remember what. Could y'all give me a shove in the right direction to get her to turn over? Thanks!

The battery has been changed ??? Seems like someone forgot to tighten the positive battery connector since you saw a spark at that terminal. Oops, I read the OP as "battery changed" but it really said "battery charged", sorry.

 

[Jim Becker]

That’s a good thought, that possibility slipped my mind.

If the engine turned, the starter is not jammed.

 

[grandpa Love]

If the engine turned, the starter is not jammed.

Good point ....my mistake

 

[TomA in CA]

I understood that it wouldn't turn over. Bad connection, bad battery, or stuck starter.

 

[Mark EC.IN]

You have a bad connection at the battery. Clean the posts and the cables, then give it another try

If that doesn't work, try jumper cables. Still no go? You could have a shorted battery. Take a battery out of something else and give it a try.