shorting a tractor to start?

f140 · 06-12-2013 10:36AM #1

was at the mechanics yesterday buying oil and I saw him start the tractor from the outside using a screw driver. I understand this is very dangerous as one may forget it was in gear but the curiosity is getting the better of how it is actually done?

Sharpshooter82 · 06-12-2013 10:41AM

f140 wrote: »

was at the mechanics yesterday buying oil and I saw him start the tractor from the outside using a screw driver. I understand this is very dangerous as one may forget it was in gear but the curiosity is getting the better of how it is actually done?

You cross the two connectors on the end of the starter, get something metal and touch the two bolts together with wires connected to them. Plenty of sparks will fly and Wouldn't recommend it unless you were in bother. Only time we had to do it was once the clutch was stuck to the flywheel of a 135 and had to start it in gear to shake free the clutch

freedominacup · 06-12-2013 10:43AM

Yer not old enough to be told:D:D.

You cross the poles on the starter motor where the cable from the battery is attached to ah, ahem, ah,.... I'm not sure what the other one is for:o.

Rovi · 06-12-2013 10:46AM

Yep, this method completely bypasses any and all safety systems on the tractor, so be very sure it's out of gear! That goes for the PTO too.

Be sure to use something capable of carrying the current too.
A friend of mine did it one time and was stuck with whatever he could find on the tractor/in his pockets at the time.
He used a fencing staple.
He had a beautiful 'U' shaped burn scar on his thumb and index finger for months afterwards

colrow · 06-12-2013 10:48AM

I don't know about shorting out the starter motor, I've done it but shorted out the two contacts on the solenoid, is that what you mean ?

Timmaay · 06-12-2013 10:51AM

I'd like to claim not to be old enough to know either ha, but have had to do it enough times with the old david brown here. But anyways, all your doing is crossing the starter relay switch. In terms of it being dangerous, not particularly, you of course always always always check if it's in gear beforehand. It shouldn't spark once you get a good contact on each terminal fairly quickly, and use a good screwdriver, obviously with a well insulation handle.

onyerbikepat · 06-12-2013 10:52AM

Ya, it's the solenoid contacts that you short out. Dangerous thing to do. Make sure tractor is out of gear.

reilig · 06-12-2013 11:06AM

Many's a man broke his leg doing this when the tractor ran over him.
The worst I heard was a lad in a quarry who was pushing rock off a 100ft face with a doser. He was standing on the track and crossed the starter and he went over the edge with the doser as it started!

The less people know about it, the better!

Viewtodiefor · 06-12-2013 11:11AM

f140 wrote: »

was at the mechanics yesterday buying oil and I saw him start the tractor from the outside using a screw driver. I understand this is very dangerous as one may forget it was in gear but the curiosity is getting the better of how it is actually done?

Your better off not knowing. Forget about it.

Moocow100 · 06-12-2013 11:16AM

I made **** of my back starting a JCB using a 50 p coin years ago I left it in gear it kicked threw me onto the bucket and I landed on one of the eyes for the forks ,Im better now though .

jomoloney · 06-12-2013 11:19AM

for the sake of a few €€€ to an auto sparkie do not start doing this,

father of 3 killed not so far from here 2 years ago,

tractor with double back wheels

Mycroft H · 06-12-2013 11:38AM

Starters are deceptively powerful; I've heard stories of people injured this way.

Slightly related story, I left the land rover in gear once and went away. Went to start it later cos I needed the winch. Reached in the window and turned the ignition. Off it goes, starts in second and trundles off across the field on it's own. Thankfully I wasn't in a yard/road and I was able to run and catch it.

onyerbikepat · 06-12-2013 11:43AM

Funny, but my old tractor is over 30 years old and it wont let you start in gear. Safety switch in the gearbox. Surprising all cars and jeeps dont have it now as standard.:rolleyes:

nashmach · 06-12-2013 01:46PM

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Funny, but my old tractor is over 30 years old and it wont let you start in gear. Safety switch in the gearbox. Surprising all cars and jeeps dont have it now as standard.:rolleyes:

The safety switch is only linked to the ignition and you are not touching the ignition when you use the screwdriver method so the safety switch is irrelevant.

zetecescort · 06-12-2013 01:50PM

onyerbikepat wrote: »

Funny, but my old tractor is over 30 years old and it wont let you start in gear. Safety switch in the gearbox. Surprising all cars and jeeps dont have it now as standard.:rolleyes:

The brother has a Toyota Aurus van for work, 2011 or 12 I think that needs the clutch pressed to start. Not sure how widespread this is in newer cars

onyerbikepat · 06-12-2013 01:54PM

nashmach wrote: »

The safety switch is only linked to the ignition and you are not touching the ignition when you use the screwdriver method so the safety switch is irrelevant.

I know. I was just following on from the previous post where he said he started the jeep in through the window.

bob charles · 06-12-2013 01:54PM

whats this starting a tractor with a key lark?

have2flushtwice · 06-12-2013 05:08PM

bob charles wrote: »

whats this starting a tractor with a key lark?

The starter got a permanent live to the battery. There is a swhich on the starter which connects the battery live to the motor..
When you turn the key in the ignition, the switch closes, connects the live to the motor and it spins.
The wire from the ignition goes through a safety switch, like the shuttle or clutch.

dzer2 · 06-12-2013 09:19PM

Have a leyland here along with 3 other tractors and 5 small children so I take all keys out of the tractors. Needed to move the leyland one day and was too lazy to go for the key so shorted the starter. Moved the tractor turned it off and went about the jobs the youngest lad aged 6 seen what I had done and showed the older lads onlt thing he didnt cop was I used a spanner he was trying it with a stick but he had the right connections

who the fug · 06-12-2013 09:43PM

bob charles wrote: »

whats this starting a tractor with a key lark?

thank you, good hill and easy start was you needed when I where a lad

Figerty · 06-12-2013 11:40PM

Started the 35x for about 10 years with a 10pence. Had to get the art of touching on the connectors without keeping the starter on for too long.

who the fug · 06-12-2013 11:50PM

Figerty wrote: »

Started the 35x for about 10 years with a 10pence. Had to get the art of touching on the connectors without keeping the starter on for too long.

two shillings surely

Figerty · 07-12-2013 12:22AM

Nah, we went all modern with the 10 pence with the salmon on it.

J.O. Farmer · 07-12-2013 12:34AM

Figerty wrote: »

Nah, we went all modern with the 10 pence with the salmon on it.

Was that the older bigger 10p or the newer smaller 1.

Farmer · 07-12-2013 01:45AM

bob charles wrote: »

whats this starting a tractor with a key lark?

If ya don't have ten pence ya can use a key to short out the two terminals i think

Rovi · 07-12-2013 09:46AM

There are two ways of doing this, one involving diverting a high current load and the other a low current load
Which you use depends on the fault you're bypassing.

If you understand the electric and mechanical principles of what's supposed to be happening and make an informed decision on how to bypass the manufacturer's safety systems to get the engine started, that all fine and dandy. It's up to you to assess the risks you're taking and take appropriate precautions.

I'm loathe though to give exact details for fear someone who doesn't really know what they're doing makes a hames of it and ends up with a burned out tractor, an exploded battery, or themselves (or someone else) crushed under a wheel or pinned against a wall.

Oh yeah, using a key or coin as mentioned above for the wrong type of bypass (high current load) is likely to end up with you having a a burned/warped/damaged key or coin and a First or Second degree burn if you're holding it in your bare fingers!

tabby aspreme · 07-12-2013 10:07AM

Have seen a few dipsticks with bits burnt out of them from starting tractors.

Timmaay · 07-12-2013 11:19AM

dzer2 wrote: »

Have a leyland here along with 3 other tractors and 5 small children so I take all keys out of the tractors. Needed to move the leyland one day and was too lazy to go for the key so shorted the starter. Moved the tractor turned it off and went about the jobs the youngest lad aged 6 seen what I had done and showed the older lads onlt thing he didnt cop was I used a spanner he was trying it with a stick but he had the right connections

Ugh ya can't win! I'd be covering up the starter totally, or at least the solenoid connectors just incase he gets anymore ideas, and actually uses a screwdriver etc the next time.

dzer2 · 07-12-2013 06:31PM

Timmaay wrote: »

Ugh ya can't win! I'd be covering up the starter totally, or at least the solenoid connectors just incase he gets anymore ideas, and actually uses a screwdriver etc the next time.

Put that shrink wrap on all the starters since then and have had a long heart to heart with the 3 of them. Done a safety statement walk with the 2 older lads when they went back to school and made a list of things to be done before christmas as a way of getting them to understand the dangers around the place. We have to make a bull run over the holidays for loading the bulls their idea that way I dont have to be behind them when loading at the crush.;)

shorting a tractor to start?

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