Deere straight 490 starter issues

[Wade Benjamin Olin]

Hello Everyone, We have some issues that you all may have some insight on. We have an older straight 490 trackhoe that we've had issues starting.

Symptoms:
Solonoid will click everytime you turn the key.
Original solonoid will start intermitently after clicking 5-10 times
if the terminals are jumped with the key turned to ignition it will continue to turn over after the jumper is removed

Things tried:
2 new solonoids, both will click but never engage starter
Charged/jumped batteries
Shimmed/cleaned terminals inside solonoid in case it wasn't making good contact.

Hopefully i've outlined this enough to give you guys an idea.
We appreciate any help! Thanks

 

[Wade Benjamin Olin]

Update: Last solenoid was able to engage starter and start the machine after half a billion clicks. would the relay/solenoid behind the boom have anything to do with this issue?

 

[Delmer]

I'm guessing it's the starter, but don't guess, hook up some test leads to the starter side of the solenoid, and see what the voltage does when you hold the key to start. This would be a fine time to hold the key to start, then give the starter a whack with a screwdriver handle. Loose connection, worn brushes, gummed up brushes, etc. inside the starter?

 

[Wade Benjamin Olin]

with shorting across the solenoid it seems to turn over just fine. I'll get a multi meter on it and see what we can find. will update as soon as i have some data on it. Thanks Delmer!

 

[Delmer]

Are you sure it's the solenoid clicking and not another relay?

Two new solenoids won't reliably get the starter to turn, but shorting the big terminals will get the starter to turn fine. forget what I said, I wonder if the bendix is holding up the solenoid from engaging enough?

No idea on why it would continue cranking either.

 

[Cat_man320]

If the sol can be engaged with shorting the terminals with a screw driver but not from the ignition, it could be a bad ignition switch or a partially broken wire and the sol cannot get enough current to engage . As for the sol sticking in, could be a partially seized pin in the lever connecting the sol to the bendix drive . Id take the sol off again and see if you can manually engage the bendix without any binding or partial seizure .