The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

I everyone, went to start my major yesterday to do some harrowing and (i thought) the battery was flat as it turned over very slowly. So i charged the battery up over night (new 100ah battery) and it did the same just now. I tried it a couple times and it was still slow, and then i was just about to give up and tried it once again, and it turned over lovely and fast and fired right up! I felt the starter motor and it was very hot around the outside, the earth wire and positive wires were slightly warm and the solenoid was cool.
Probably an idea to say the starter motor looks original, as does the solenoid.
Seems to me that the starter motor needs overhauling?

I did also notice that when it was running, there was a small amount of diesel leaking out of the side of the lift pump on the front of the fuel pump, theres like a small moving shaft and its coming from there, would a lift pump rebuild kit fix this?

Nic, you may want to check the condition of the brushes and armature on the starter motor.

Also, make sure that the connections are good and clean on all the cables from the battery to the solenoid, and from the solenoid to the starter. Any place that you feel a "hot spot" is usually a tarnished connection. Over time cables that get hot will break down and loose their the ability to conduct electricity. Also, "hot spots" will expand and contract thereby loosening connections. It is always importiant to keep electrical connections clean and snug. Dandy Dave!

There is no earth wire on a starter motor - the motor body provides it.
As Starr says, it's probably the brushes which, over time, wear down so that the springs fail to keep them in contact with the commutator. As well,even though not completely worn out, their holders collect gunge which stops their movement. A mate of mine had the same problem [not on a Major] and he gave the body a belt with a hammer which jarred the brushes down.
It's also possible that the solenoid is not engaging. I believe the connecting linkage can be adjusted.
Pavel

Thanks for your replies guys, ive double checked all connections etc and its still doing the same thing. The only place thats getting hot, is the middle of the starter motor, so im going to take the cover off the end and check the brushes, if they are ok, then its got to be the armature.

On another note, anyone any ideas about the diesel leak? It looks to me like its the shaft operates the lift pump itself?

If the fuel pump is leaking fuel out of the pump shaft, then your diaphram is bad. Time for a new pump, or to rebuild the one you have if you can find a kit with a diaphram. Also be sure that the fuel has not leaked into the oil pan and contaminated the engine oil.

If the starter is getting hot, your problem is in the starter then. As the others have said, Check the brushes first. Dandy Dave!

Whoops!
There is an earth wire - on the solenoid only.
Sorry.
Pavel

Starter body getting hot = Short circuit in the magnet windings rather than armature fault. Armature problems will show sometimes by burning/errosion on the commutator where the brushes run.

I think im going to get the starter re-built rather than get a 'new' one, i dont trust them as much (you know what i mean).

Maybe i havent explained properly, the lift pump is where its leaking from, on my tractor its bolted to the front of the diesel pump itself. and its leaking from a small shaft, about 1/4" round that rotates when its running

You have an industrial engine then or at least an industrial/lorry pump. A picture would help.

You should have diesel in the pump itself to act as a lubricant or the lift pump may be leaking from the diaphragm. Have you noticed diesel running from the pig-tailed leak off at the front of the pump?

If it is wear in the bushes that hold the shaft a new pump may be your best way out.

Pavel wrote:Whoops!
There is an earth wire - on the solenoid only.
Sorry.
Pavel

I think original solenoid only have a feed wire and earth through the casing, there are 2 large terminals for feed from battery and to starter then one small connection on a ring terminal which is powered from the ignition switch/starter switch.

Regards
Ed

No i havent seen any diesel leaking from the pigtail pipe, like you say, its like the shaft seals have gone on the actual lift pump. How much do you reckon it will be to re-build a starter motor?

Hi Nick
Just a thought here and probably totally wrong but if you say there is no fuel weeping out of the pig tail as Brian calls it is the pipe plugged and the fuels backing up in the main pump then finding the easy root out for example the shaft you talk about I have come across those pipes blocked solid in the past and when there cleaned and the tractors running the fuel pours out.
Regards Robert

I havent checked if the pigtail is blocked, but i will try it. All these problems im trying to get sorted for the show season and for working it in the summer at harvest time!
I will try and get a photo up of the fuel pump, but my other halfs digital camera is with her in holland at the moment

Nick wrote:
I will try and get a photo up of the fuel pump, but my other halfs digital camera is with her in holland at the moment

Nick
Here is a photo of an industrial engine. Does this help with pointing out which part is leaking?


Kiwi Kev