Starter Drive Not Engaging?

[Tom Bowman]

Ferguson TO-20, converted to 12-volt, still has 6-volt starter. Started and ran fine a few weeks ago.
Cranked the starter last night - got a loud grinding noise from the starter, and it wasn't trying to turn the engine.
Can the starter drive not extending/engaging completely cause that? I didn't have time to pull the starter last night, and I didn't try to turn the engine by hand.

 

[Ericp351]

Not rocket science: Pull starter. Look at ring gear. Step on starter near your tractor and or truck. Test with jumper cable. See how she works. Fix as reqd. I think you knew that... Good luck.

 

[olddavid]

If it's a Lucas starter if the engagement gear is spun out too far it will lock and cause a loud noise without engaging. I spun mine out by hand once with the starter out and was I ever sorry. It's extremely difficult to correct requiring disassembly of the Bendix if you can call it that. Once apart it's kind of trial and error to get the gear in the right position. With the starter out see if the gear is spun out. If not, do not under any circumstances spin it out but look elsewhere as suggested. Edit: I wouldn't do a jumper cable test spin out of the tractor, either. It shouldn't spin out too far after it is installed, however. Did you have it out?

 

[Tom Bowman]

Thanks, Eric and Old David.
Starter is out. It's a Delco, and the starter drive ("Bendix") gear is all chewed up, probably from being a 6-volt starter on a 12-volt system for a little too long. It worked fine for about 12 years...until it didn't. I had some work done on the starter when I was rebuilding the tractor, and it looks like the starter drive gear has been replaced, but I don't remember that.
Ring gear still looks OK.
The next stop is the automotive electric shop for a new starter drive, and probably converting the starter to 12-volt.

 

[Ericp351]

Good luck- parts are still avai. Remember fresh brushes and bushings are very cheap. No real need to "convert" to "12V. A resister for your ignition coil is beneficial and also cheap. Nappa can supply 1.5 ohm (ish) ones, Chrysler style, easily if needed. 50-5O chance you allready settled that!

 

[olddavid]

My 6 volt Lucas starter lasted years with 12 volts. It was rebuilt once that I know of. I've heard of using smaller gauge wire to the starter to ease the shock of 12 volts on a 6 volt starter. Maybe use cables rated for12 volts, not 6. Best wishes.