Ford 550 starter electrical problems.

[Petroldrinker]

Hello all.
First time trying to start my old digger in six months and nothing, not even a click. Charged the battery which is pretty young anyway and it's giving 13.6 volts. Tried bypassing the solenoid but no click or spark. Getting 13.5 volts at the solenoid terminals. That's exhausted my limited knowledge. Because there was no click or spark I thought maybe a fuse but then the multimeter shows 13.5v at the solenoid I guess that can't be the case? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Lincs Lass]

The ignition barrel ,,maybe mice have been nagging at some wires

 

[Netherfield]

Try having someone turn the key while you check the voltage at the solenoid or across the battery as well, you can have a bad cell in the battery, a bad earth at the chassis, a bad connection on the battery, unusual to not get even a click though.

 

[Petroldrinker]

Try having someone turn the key while you check the voltage at the solenoid or across the battery as well, you can have a bad cell in the battery, a bad earth at the chassis, a bad connection on the battery, unusual to not get even a click though.

I will try that tomorrow. Would the multimeter still be giving 13.5v on the solenoid terminals with a bad earth? Is that not the earth it would be using? I'm far from an expert as you can probably tell.

 

[Petroldrinker]

The ignition barrel ,,maybe mice have been nagging at some wires

The mice are often busy here.

 

[Exfarmer]

Have you tried a screw driver across the solenoid

 

[Petroldrinker]

Yes, not even a click. That's what has me baffled.

 

[john432]

Have you tried a screw driver across the solenoid

Or a hevyish old spanner, soon gets them turning

 

[john432]

Yes, not even a click. That's what has me baffled.

Bad contact ,or bad earth somewhere. Enough juice gets through to show all fine on the volt meter.

 

[Petroldrinker]

Just to clarify. When I bypass the solenoid I'm not getting any response, not a spark or a click. The multimeter reads 13.5 volts at the solenoid.
Thanks.

 

[Petroldrinker]

Bad contact ,or bad earth somewhere. Enough juice gets through to show all fine on the volt meter.

Okay great. Any ideas on how to trace a bad earth? Or bodge it? She's no beauty but she's usually a great work horse. I just need to get her going.

 

[Netherfield]

Jump lead from battery earth to earth terminal on the starter motor, in this situation basically it's where the earth cable attaches to the chassis or where it attaches to the battery, and a quick rub round with emery on the battery terminals and the connectors won't go amiss. I've said many times on here, the nest connection for the earth cable is one end at the battery and the other direct to the starter motor earth point or under one of the mounting bolts will do.
It needs to be under load when reading the voltage i.e. trying to start.

 

[Daveh]

Did you try crossing the 2big connectors or just from the battery side to the small terminal. Could be the solenoid.

 

[john432]

With some heavy duty jump leads, clamp the +ve terminal, and touch the lower terminal of the solenoid that goes into the starter.if you get no response,the put the negative on and clamped to the body of the starter.

 

[john432]

Another thing, replacement battery terminals, with just two screws pressing into the copper strands is no where as good as the original s soldered on properly.

 

[Netherfield]

@Nearly has a method of making cables in a vice.

 

[Petroldrinker]

Jump lead from battery earth to earth terminal on the starter motor, in this situation basically it's where the earth cable attaches to the chassis or where it attaches to the battery, and a quick rub round with emery on the battery terminals and the connectors won't go amiss. I've said many times on here, the nest connection for the earth cable is one end at the battery and the other direct to the starter motor earth point or under one of the mounting bolts will do.
It needs to be under load when reading the voltage i.e. trying to start.

I'll try that first thing in the morning. Thank you.

 

[Petroldrinker]

Did you try crossing the 2big connectors or just from the battery side to the small terminal. Could be the solenoid.

Big connectors.

 

[Petroldrinker]

With some heavy duty jump leads, clamp the +ve terminal, and touch the lower terminal of the solenoid that goes into the starter.if you get no response,the put the negative on and clamped to the body of the starter.

Thank you very much. Jump leads in the morning. I'll report back.

 

[Daveh]

Sorry, not very clear. The 2 big terminals on the back of the solenoid, the starter should spin but obviously not engage bypassing the solenoid. Hopefully makes more sense now.