Sticky Starter in Ford 4600

Duckytech

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone can shed any light on our tractors problematic starter. When the ignition is turned, the only response is a clicking noise. After numerous turns, starter kicks in and engages. Lately, the starter is taking more and more key turns before it engages and starts the engine.

Is there anything we can do to fix the starter ourselves, or would it require a new unit?

Cheers for any assistance.

O.A.P

A quick fix is to tap the starter with a spanner or something a few times and try again, this will work for along time but it will get slower and slower and it will have to fixed properly at some stage.
Take it off and bring it to any auto electrician who should be able to recondition it for 100 euro or less unless its gone past fixing.

Duckytech

Hi,

Yea, tapping it with a spanner is something we have been doing although lately that is starting to fail us.


Thanks for reply and as you say probably best to get it serviced by auto electrician.

101sean

Check the battery earth is sound first but it does sound like a failing starter solenoid. As OAP says, most starter repairs are cheap and not worth faffing around with yourself.

marlyman

new starter is cheaper tham a recon. dont bother getting it repaired

Fishtits

new starter is cheaper tham a recon. dont bother getting it repaired

Care to post prices of each option?

Recon is cheaper and better around here unless the thing is totally buggered.

marlyman

Op where u live and ill get you a new starter for cheap money.

A recon is never better than new imho. you still have a second hand starter repaired with cheap Chinese parts. retail price of that starter is about 110 + vat. a recon will only last 6-9 months anyway.

Avns1s

marlyman wrote: »

Op where u live and ill get you a new starter for cheap money.

A recon is never better than new imho. you still have a second hand starter repaired with cheap Chinese parts. retail price of that starter is about 110 + vat. a recon will only last 6-9 months anyway.

That is total nonsense. A proper reconditioned unit will be on a par with a new unit. Secondly, it will last as long as a new unit. I have had starters reconditioned for tractors that are going strong 15 years later. Sounds to me like you're trying to sell a new (probably cheap chinese) unit.

OP, If the starter is eventually able to start the tractor then the problem is not with the motor of the unit itself. I would be checking that the wiring is not the problem. You can do this by ensuring that the tractor is out of gear and with a short piece of wire, cross the little terminal on the solenoid with the large +ve terminal also on the solenoid. If the starter runs properly then you have a problem with the wiring, loose / corroded connection or possibly a problem with the ignition switch. If the starter just operates the same as before by clicking and so forth, then the problem is with the solenoid.

A solenoid can be replaced cheaply and easily for a fraction of the cost of a new unit.

Let us know how you get on.

marlyman

Avns1s wrote: »

That is total nonsense. A proper reconditioned unit will be on a par with a new unit. Secondly, it will last as long as a new unit. I have had starters reconditioned for tractors that are going strong 15 years later. Sounds to me like you're trying to sell a new (probably cheap chinese) unit.

A solenoid can be replaced cheaply and easily for a fraction of the cost of a new unit.

Let us know how you get on.

Avns1s wrote: »

That is total nonsense. A proper reconditioned unit will be on a par with a new unit. .

by definition reconditioning anything restores it to a functioning state. not to a new state. I can prove to you, on a bench with gauges, that a reconditioned starter never matches up to a new one. BTW ive seen a few starter that were duds straight from the box, but the percentage is low.

Avns1s wrote: »

Secondly, it will last as long as a new unit. .

What are you basing this on. New starter sales outstrip conponents sales 10:1 . even autoelectricians (not all, of course but most) prefer to sell new unit to repairing them if the new unit is avaialable as it doesnt pay to repair them. also they have to warranty them which is not viable . again i can seen the numbers to back this up.

Avns1s wrote: »

I have had starters reconditioned for tractors that are going strong 15 years later. .

thats good to hear. there are autoelectricians out there who are deadly at the game.

Avns1s wrote: »

Sounds to me like you're trying to sell a new (probably cheap chinese) unit. .

ouch sticks and stones ......you dont know me or what i do. i could just as easily say that your a autoelectrician try to hawk chinese windings. but i wont.

op, pm me monday and ill try to give you a dig out either diagnosing the tractor or sorting out a repair if you dont get sorted.

Fishtits

Marly, you're stuffed.

You're selling red lucas (Indian) or green lucas (Turkish) Lucas (GB) died a death many years ago and its brand is now worth zilch.

As an aside, Joe Lucas, founding member.

Died over a century ago.

granpa

hi . just thought i,d put my oar on to this one, although you probley got it sorted by now when the sil--- clicks it usally is not getting enough power,which usally points to wiring or battery or alt not charging properly , this is what iwould check first, then the starter
Regards Granpa,

101sean

Fishtits, what you say about Lucas may be correct but there's no need to be rude about it, that's verging on trolling

Forum mod

On a lighter note, we have a very good auto electrician in Thurles who will rebuild or supply new depending on what's most economic.

Fishtits

Yeah, you're right. Apologies for being rude.

On a lighter note... your mate in Thurles isn't the only bloke who will rebuild etc based on whats best...