The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Hey guys, I haven't been on since last fall and I have missed reading on here! I have been working the old girl a bit over the winter with the snow blade and she's running great! Starting to have an issue with the starter though. Occasionally when I want to start her, when I push the start lever down, it will start to push the pinion in and then SNAP! and disengage. Then the next time it will work fine. Doesn't seem to be an electrical issue outside the starter itself. Any ideas?

Think that happens when the teeth on the pinion and on the ring gear are directly in line and the pinion cannot engage.

I would suggest you check the operation of the solenoid -- the one which the 2 HT leads are bolted to.
When the coil of the solenoid is energised it thrusts a plunger out that has a copper or bronze cross-piece on the end of it. This cross-piece bridges the 2 HT terminals and closes the circuit to the s/motor which then spins to turn the crankshaft. After years of use the cross-piece can become contaminated, burnt out or even deformed, with the start of this being intermittent operation.
I have a French car where it sometimes takes 2 or 3 twists of the key before it operates and because it is such a so and so to remove the s/motor I'm putting off the evil day so as to strip and renovate it -- which on piggy-back solenoids can be done. Unfortunately the Fordson one is a sealed unit with replacement being the only option.

Pavel

Thanks, Pavel, after doing some reading, I have come to that conclusion as well. I have a new solenoid ready to go, I just have to get out there and do it.