Starter troubles YM2000

buckstoy · Feb 13, 2016

Help! 2 weeks ago the starter on my tractor started acting up. When I tried starting it the lead off of the solonoid would smoke. I took it to my local starter repair place and they rebuilt it and put a new solonoid on it. I reinstalled the starter and it worked fine for about 5 starts and when I turned off the tractor I heard a "whirring" sound, the engine was off but the starter was spinning like crazy! I pulled the negative lead off of the battery and it quit. I attempted to remove the lead from the ignition switch and reattach the negative lead but the terminal would arch. Took the starter back to the rebuilder and they replaced the solonoid with a different style solonoid. I've re-reinstalled the starter and again gotten about 5 starts and again the whirring sound of the starter spinning like crazy. Is it something on my tractor causing this or just crappy solonoids?

kenmac · Feb 13, 2016

The solenoid is sticking,, keeping the starter engaged or the start switch is sticking in the start position which would keep the solenoid engaged

Next time.. take the wire from the switch to the solenoid off,and see if it stops spinning

careyo63 · Feb 14, 2016

Ignition switch would be a good reason. What it sounds like to me. Sticking and Staying in the Start position. I would Disconnect the Battery and on the Key itself spray some W/D40 on it and put the key in the switch. Turn the key and try to loosen up the Ign. switch. Don't put an excessive amount on it but just enough to try and free up the switch. Do it a few times and see if that takes care of the problem.

normde2001 · Feb 14, 2016

Replace the ignition switch, probably shorted and original problem.

buckstoy · Feb 14, 2016

kenmac said:
Next time.. take the wire from the switch to the solenoid off,and see if it stops spinning

I removed the wire from the switch to the solonoid and attempted to reconnect the negative lead and it shot sparks.

buckstoy · Feb 14, 2016

The first failure was just an old wore out starter with to much friction inside causing too much current draw and smoking the lead on the solonoid. These last two times after rebuild , I've started the tractor a handful of times, turn off the tractor and the starter is spinning away without engaging the flywheel.

winston1 · Feb 14, 2016

Maybe you need this and watch the attached video. STARTER SOLENOID ASSEMBLY: Yanmar Tractor Parts

careyo63 · Feb 14, 2016

Two different solenoids bad ? That so highly doubtful. And a repair shop rebuilt it ? They tested the starter after rebuilding it I'm sure

The first one may have gone bad but if it happened twice then something took them out. I have a Ym2000 that I was all through the starter BTDT. I was even in the motor and reversed the brushes and was able to get 3yrs. more use out of it before having to rebuild it. The shop that rebuilt it commented on it knowing what I did. They were Gone :laughing: Take it back and if the solenoids bad again there's not much doubt somethings causing it. Most likely Ignition switch Stuck and burning it up. I had this rebuilt 5yrs ago and it's still working. And for just about the cost of the solenoid posted. So it's an EL-Cheapo!

kenmac · Feb 14, 2016

buckstoy said:
I removed the wire from the switch to the solonoid and attempted to reconnect the negative lead and it shot sparks.

sounds like a bad ign. switch to me. You can test with a test light ,or by touching it to the solenoid switch terminal

careyo63 · Feb 14, 2016

kenmac said:
sounds like a bad ign. switch to me. You can test with a test light ,or by touching it to the solenoid switch terminal

Neat 1500 · Feb 15, 2016

Yeah but he said it's spinning like crazy (ie no crank just spin) so I'd say crappy cheapo solenoids and not the ignition switch.

kenmac · Feb 15, 2016

Neat 1500 said:
Yeah but he said it's spinning like crazy (ie no crank just spin) so I'd say crappy cheapo solenoids and not the ignition switch.

very likely

careyo63 · Feb 15, 2016

Quote> Took the starter back to the rebuilder and they replaced the solonoid with a different style solonoid. I've re-reinstalled the starter and again gotten about 5 starts and again the whirring sound of the starter spinning like crazy. Is it something on my tractor causing this or just crappy solonoids?

I sure would like to be there and actually test what was going on with his starter after being rebuilt. And after using Two different Style Solenoids and both are bad. Then I would have to say they use only the cheapest crappy parts available. :laughing:

PILOON · Feb 15, 2016

I'm all for spraying some WD40 into the ignition switch key slot as it sounds to me as if the contact is sticking probably due to dry lubricant.
Nothing to lose.
WD40 is non corrosive and will dissolve that dry lubricant.

Neat 1500 · Feb 16, 2016

Either nasty parts or it is not being set up properly and contacts touching when they shouldn't. It could be bending the contact bar after a few starts then shorts across driving the motor only and not pulling in the solenoid ( indicating the switch is not putting anything out) hence the motor only whirring with no load.

normde2001 · Feb 16, 2016

For $35-$40 I would eliminate the switch as a problem.

buckstoy · Feb 18, 2016

Thanks for all the replies, I haven't gotten back out to the property to try my parts back on but I have cleaned up the ignition switch with a product called DeOxit which is supposed to be very good for cleaning electrical contacts and the such. I put my test meter on the lugs C and B (the two lugs going from the switch to the solonoid) and checked for continuity. When I turn the key to start I have a tone, when I release there is none, I did this many many times and it consistently performed this way.
Talked to the owner of the starter rebuild place, his only thought was possibly my ignition switch may be causing this issue but was a bit puzzled that it would only spin the starter motor but not kick out the bendix (he thought that maybe every 5 times or so the switch would hang but I couldnt get it to do it. Also per the owner of the starter rebuild place I whacked the solonoid with a hammer and it is no longer shorted across the two lugs.
I hope to be happy tractoring this weekend but we will see! As a side note can I pull start her if needed?

winston1 · Feb 18, 2016

"As a side note can I pull start her if needed?"

Yes, pull the decompression until you get her spinning in a high gear.

careyo63 · Feb 18, 2016

Curiosity has a lot of us so let us know how it goes this weekend. We can only give advice on trouble shooting it. I still highly doubt 2 New Solenoids were bad and was joking on the cheap crappy parts comment. The Deoxit is what were saying to try with WD40. and the Ign. And that sounds like what was causing the problems. I have heard and had problems myself with switches being out in the weather. So maybe you won't have to replace it and your back in business.

buckstoy · Feb 22, 2016

Alright did some good tractoring this weekend, wife learned how to pull start a tractor also! Put everything back on went to hit the starter switch and.... nothing! After the cleaning of the switch now my switch wont fully go over into the start position! So we pull started it Saturday and let it run for a big chunk of the afternoon, and did the same yesterday. One ignition switch on order along with some fuel filters. Cant look around to long on Hoye tractors too much stuff I want but cant afford!