1974 MF150 Diesel Won't Start Without Jump Starter

[Harry in Ky]

I didn't say charge it. I said replace it.

 

[jaxs]

Ok. I have volt meters. How does low tire pressure figure in? Thanks.

I believe he was just "funning" and where I sit it looks like you might possibly be doing the same. Even first time newbies ALWAYS clean cables and posts then charges battery before throwing in the towel.

 

[Dman1981]

Cheap voltmeter from anywhere will
check your voltage also a little screwdriver to back of alternator if it is charging will grab it
Creates a electromagnet effect

 

[WranglerX]

IF voltmeter says alternator is putting out about 14 Volts (+/-) the alternator is working....

Personally after checking alternator voltage I would have battery load tested and clean all the terminals at battery to bright and shiny (battery post & cables) and ground connection at frame...

 

[Shady oak]

Sometimes if you have a weak solenoid, adding the juice of the jumper will then engage it….. but normally I think you would get a click from your other battery…. If it sat all winter it just seems like a dead battery? And yes, batteries can short out, at any time.

 

[Fxfymn413]

First off I'd do a quick test of the battery by placing a test light on it. If the light fails to come on or fades quickly the battery is suspect. Pull it off and take it to a parts store to be tested if you do not have a tester.

If the battery is good, but not charged, the charging system has failed.

 

[Joe Batt]

My problem is normally a loose or dirty ground to the battery (because most things work, but cranking doesn't). It's hard to believe the first 20-30 times, but it's the first thing I check now.

 

[ernieatv]

Fellers. I bought a '74 MF150 about this time last year. 1249 hours. Had the fuel injector pump rebuilt mid-summer, and I rebuilt the starter and installed new key switch early fall. Started using it mid-Winter but the only way I can get it to start is by jumping the battery. Turn the key and nothing. Not even a click. I've tried removing cables after running for a while, thinking something might be grounded and pulling power. No change. The battery is a NAPA Legend July 2022. Reckon the battery's gone bad that quick? Any help will be appreciated.

 

[ernieatv]

Fellers. I bought a '74 MF150 about this time last year. 1249 hours. Had the fuel injector pump rebuilt mid-summer, and I rebuilt the starter and installed new key switch early fall. Started using it mid-Winter but the only way I can get it to start is by jumping the battery. Turn the key and nothing. Not even a click. I've tried removing cables after running for a while, thinking something might be grounded and pulling power. No change. The battery is a NAPA Legend July 2022. Reckon the battery's gone bad that quick? Any help will be appreciated.

You may have a dead cell in your battery. It happened to me before and even if I was to put the booster cable on it it wouldn't do anything . I had to disconnect the battery cable and use the booster cable directly with the cables

 

[Tim in SC]

My Dad always said KISS, Keep It Simple STUPID!

After the tractor has been siting for a day check the voltage on the battery. If it is less than 12 point something it is the battery. If it is 12 point something have someone hold the multimeter on the battery and turn the key. If the volts go down the battery is bad.

I would never buy a battery at NAPA. Their warranty sucks! Both of my MF's, Kubota, house Generac and my Hobart welder all have AGM batteries (absorbed glass mat) from of all places WalMart. They cost about $200, they are sealed, so no maintenance required and they come with a 4 year warranty. You can't buy an Optima for that price or warranty.

Good Luck!

 

[spankyscamp]

It sounds like the chassis grounds are not good. We have a MF135 that will do the same thing. clean the grounds and it starts on its own with no booster pack. When you put on a booster pack you are just giving it a better ground.

 

[Bentrim]

Proper troubleshooting begins at the battery.
Take a volt reading before attempting to start. Should be 12.75 for a fully charged battery. 12.25 or less is a dead battery. Take reading directly from the posts not the cables. Now take a reading from the cables. Less voltage? clean the terminals. Take a reading from the battery post on the starter to ground. Low voltage? Clean the battery terminal and connections. With the voltmeter hooked to the battery and showing over 12.5 volts attempt to start it. Does the voltmeter drop below 10 volt? Bad battery. Using jumper cables can sometimes make a good connection to the battery if the cables are corroded or can cover for a bad battery.

Once tractor is started check voltage at the battery should be above 13.5 volts. Anything less the charging system needs repaired. If original you should have a Delco alternator with a regulator mounted in front of the dash on the right side. You can replace the alternator/regulator setup with a later 10SI (one with an internal regulator)that was used on 70's GM cars but will need to change the wireing slightly.

 

[aircommuter]

When cranking you should have a minimum of 9.6v at the starter terminal, it should be the same on both sides of the solenoid. I see you rebuilt the starter, does that include the solenoid? 13.6v is the minimum charging voltage at the terminals. If you don’t have either of these minimums keep going back up the cables until you find those minimums. Then you can see where the change occurs. Best test method for the battery itself is a Midtronics MDX600 or similar. You could get a free test on machine like that at a parts store. I keep one in my shop because I am 35 miles from a store.

 

[Lavender Valley]

Fellers. I bought a '74 MF150 about this time last year. 1249 hours. Had the fuel injector pump rebuilt mid-summer, and I rebuilt the starter and installed new key switch early fall. Started using it mid-Winter but the only way I can get it to start is by jumping the battery. Turn the key and nothing. Not even a click. I've tried removing cables after running for a while, thinking something might be grounded and pulling power. No change. The battery is a NAPA Legend July 2022. Reckon the battery's gone bad that quick? Any help will be appreciated.

Hi, probably your battery, but, Massey Ferguson had some different safety systems, depress the clutch, or, High/low in neutral and I recall one model here in New Zealand had a positive earth. Keep in mind all safety systems are normally a break in the earth—food for thought.

 

[wtstarters]

Most common solution is a bad ground. (1)Battery cable grounded to tranny or frame. (2)Tranny or frame grounded to engine, (3)starter grounds to engine. Any of these points can create a bad connection (thank you pressure washer). Easiest way to check for one of these is to use one leg of a jumper cable. Connect one end to clean neg battery post, other end to a clean starter mounting bolt or starter thru bolt. That by passes any ground problem in between. A lot of the newer equipment has a ground cable directly to a post on the back or side of the starter. Ford/Lucas has used that for decades.