S-373 Beaver III starting issue (Long post)

[redalrt]

My tractor has developed a problem after 8 years of faithful service. When I attempt to start it, the starter turns over very slowly and the wiring harness starts smoking on the left near the area where it connects to the alternator. Obviously a lot of amperage is going through the wires.

I'd say the slow starter is causing a lot resistance and overheating the wires. It looks like there's one wire in particular on which the insulation is melted, but I'll have to check to see if there are more affected wires. I'm sure I'd melt the wires too if I keep trying to crank it.

At first I thought it was the battery, but I had it tested. It exceeds the specs for which it's rated. I can start the tractor if I'm using jumper cables from my car; not normal.

Have any of you seen this before?

Those are the symptoms but what is the fix?

New starter?
New wiring harness?
Check battery cable connections?

 

[284 International]

Checking and cleaning battery cables and connections is always the right thing to do. Since they are melted, they are even more suspect.

Usually abnormally high amperage in starting circuits is because of low battery voltage. That you can start the tractor using jumper cables implies the battery may have issues.

I would advise, for best practice, to pull the starter and take it to get tested. It's possible the high amperage damaged the starter, so you want to make sure it stays in rebuildable condition if it requires that.

I would also check and replace the battery cables, and thoroughly clean the connectors. On my older equipment, sometimes the cables themselves are fine, as are the connectors, but the junction of terminal to connector has corroded.

A battery can test at the proper voltage but be unable to provide a sustained level of voltage to start the machine. I would re-check or replace that, and do the other things anyway, too.

 

[modifyit]

My tractor has developed a problem after 8 years of faithful service. When I attempt to start it, the starter turns over very slowly and the wiring harness starts smoking on the left near the area where it connects to the alternator. Obviously a lot of amperage is going through the wires.

I'd say the slow starter is causing a lot resistance and overheating the wires. It looks like there's one wire in particular on which the insulation is melted, but I'll have to check to see if there are more affected wires. I'm sure I'd melt the wires too if I keep trying to crank it.

At first I thought it was the battery, but I had it tested. It exceeds the specs for which it's rated. I can start the tractor if I'm using jumper cables from my car; not normal.

Have any of you seen this before?

Those are the symptoms but what is the fix?

New starter?
New wiring harness?
Check battery cable connections?

I had a similar problem with my Beaver, but it was the smaller hot wire from the starter terminal which smoked (I believe that wire goes back to the ignition switch). I found my problem was related to the ignition switch. I don't know why the wire at the alternator would short out while cranking, unless the alternator or regulator is bad.

 

[evan price]

You have a bad connection to the large wire that goes to the battery; probably the positive heavy cable to the starter. Since the starter can't get enough power through that cable it is trying to get it from the smaller cable that goes to the alternator then to the battery.
Often the cable clamp corrodes inside where the actual copper wires are attached by staking or crimping. It may look OK but is corroded inside.

I would start by making sure every connection is clean and shiny and making good contact at both ends of every cable. Polish the terminals with some fine sandpaper.
Once you get it fixed smear a bit of grease on the terminal ends to prevent corrosion.

 

[Jophiel82]

I'm having the same exact problem with my Beaver 3 Satoh373D. Starter lugging and wire melting. I took the whole harness apart, checked for short, cleaned and checked battery connections, bench tested starter, etc. Still doing the same thing. Did you ever find a solution to your problem?????? Please help getting a little irritated at this point.

 

[Jptech]

I had the same problem with my S370. Turns out the bushing in the starter, and the armature, had both worn so much that it was "dragging" on the magnets. I replaced the starter with a Dodge Colt starter. Works great now. ------------- John :drink: