Ford 1700 Starter Problem

[Francis_K]

Hi,

Had a question.

I have an old Ford 1700 tractor. I let it set for a year after the battery died. Been trying to get it started. Found out the starter was shot. Replaced it. After putting the new starter in when I turn the key there is a clunk, the fan blades move a couple inches and then nothing.

Tried moving the gear the starter engages with inside the tractor. Moves pretty freely if I move it slowly. Also tried starter while not attached and it seems to work fine.

Strange thing is when I was first putting new starter on I turned the key before it was tightened down all the way and the engine turned over fine. I have tried loosening the bolts to try to recreate that and no matter what I do when I turn the key it only moves the engine/fan slightly with the clunk sound.

Checked all electrical connections. Replaced battery and battery cables. Nothing helps.

Thanks ahead of time for any helpful advice. I am not mechanically inclined but even though it is old the tractor has been very reliable in the past.

Francis

 

[dirttoys]

Hi,

Had a question.

I have an old Ford 1700 tractor. I let it set for a year after the battery died. Been trying to get it started. Found out the starter was shot. Replaced it. After putting the new starter in when I turn the key there is a clunk, the fan blades move a couple inches and then nothing.

Tried moving the gear the starter engages with inside the tractor. Moves pretty freely if I move it slowly. Also tried starter while not attached and it seems to work fine.

Strange thing is when I was first putting new starter on I turned the key before it was tightened down all the way and the engine turned over fine. I have tried loosening the bolts to try to recreate that and no matter what I do when I turn the key it only moves the engine/fan slightly with the clunk sound.

Checked all electrical connections. Replaced battery and battery cables. Nothing helps.

Thanks ahead of time for any helpful advice. I am not mechanically inclined but even though it is old the tractor has been very reliable in the past.

Francis

Likely be better 1700 specific replies come alone. Check all the fluids, make sure the ground and wiring to the starter is good.

Pull the injectors and see if it will roll, maybe a little lube or fog in the cylinders once you have the injectors out.

Best,
ed

 

[Dave M7040]

Your starter relies on contact with the engine block to complete its circuit. It happens with old tractors that the mounting face of the block where the starter sits gets rusty to the point that only poor electrical contact to the starter body occurs.

Clean the block mounting surface and try again. Consider running a second ground cable with two eye ends. One end attached to the starter mounting bolt and the other to wherever the ground cable from the battery attaches to.

Dave M7040

 

[Francis_K]

Your starter relies on contact with the engine block to complete its circuit. It happens with old tractors that the mounting face of the block where the starter sits gets rusty to the point that only poor electrical contact to the starter body occurs.

Clean the block mounting surface and try again. Consider running a second ground cable with two eye ends. One end attached to the starter mounting bolt and the other to wherever the ground cable from the battery attaches to.

Dave M7040

Thank you for the reply.

I thought that might be a problem also. I did try running a jumper cable directly from the negative terminal on the battery to one of the bolts on the starter. Like you said things are rusty on the tractor. Unfortunately it didn't make any difference.

Likely be better 1700 specific replies come alone. Check all the fluids, make sure the ground and wiring to the starter is good.

Pull the injectors and see if it will roll, maybe a little lube or fog in the cylinders once you have the injectors out.

Best,
ed

Thank you.

It will roll. Nothing seems to be jammed up. And the starter did work one single time and the engine seemed to turn over freely.

 

[dirttoys]

Thank you for the reply.

I thought that might be a problem also. I did try running a jumper cable directly from the negative terminal on the battery to one of the bolts on the starter. Like you said things are rusty on the tractor. Unfortunately it didn't make any difference.


Thank you.

It will roll. Nothing seems to be jammed up. And the starter did work one single time and the engine seemed to turn over freely.

very hard to tell from here. my guess, maybe bound something when running starter loose? If it has a warranty, get another one probably the shortest course from here.

Best,

ed

 

[jaxs]

You said the battery sat discharged for a year then didn't say whether it charged and TESTED before using it. Sitting discharged for a year will lower ampacity of a new battery and possibly be a kiss of death for a used battery. Temporarly install a different battery to see if that helps.

 

[rScotty]

Sounds to like the replacement starter is bad. Hope you have the old one. They are simple dimple like apple pie to rebuild. If you have it, take it to your local auto electric shop.

 

[Francis_K]

You said the battery sat discharged for a year then didn't say whether it charged and TESTED before using it. Sitting discharged for a year will lower ampacity of a new battery and possibly be a kiss of death for a used battery. Temporarly install a different battery to see if that helps.

Thanks for the reply.

Brand new battery.

New battery. New battery cables. Checked all the other connections.

I think I am going to return the starter. Try another one. The engine moves pretty easily by hand, using a long screwdriver. Doesn't seem to be any reason for the starter not turning it over that I can find. Neighbor, who is a farmer, with several vintage tractors, can't figure it out either.

Francis

 

[Francis_K]

Sounds to like the replacement starter is bad. Hope you have the old one. They are simple dimple like apple pie to rebuild. If you have it, take it to your local auto electric shop.

Thank you.

I am going to return the starter. Try another one. Too much money to have repair something that is supposed to be new.

Francis

 

[dirttoys]

Thanks for the reply.

Brand new battery.

New battery. New battery cables. Checked all the other connections.

I think I am going to return the starter. Try another one. The engine moves pretty easily by hand, using a long screwdriver. Doesn't seem to be any reason for the starter not turning it over that I can find. Neighbor, who is a farmer, with several vintage tractors, can't figure it out either.

Francis

very good, please let us know