I've got an old (late 60's-early 70's) Massey Ferguson 135 Diesel tractor that I inherited with the property I'm leasing. It has been sitting for a few years and I figured what the hell, I'll see if it runs. After replacing the keyed switch with my own push button switch (don't have the key), I pushed the button, and she started right up. Messed around with it for a little bit, turned it on and off multiple times.

I let it sit overnight and went to start it the next morning and all I get is a "click." Battery is good. It is reading 12.6V. When I went to start it the first time it was only 12.3V. I've tried jump starting it just to be sure, but still just a "click" from the starter when I push the button.

Anybody have any ideas?

I've got an old (late 60's-early 70's) Massey Ferguson 135 Diesel tractor that I inherited with the property I'm leasing. It has been sitting for a few years and I figured what the hell, I'll see if it runs. After replacing the keyed switch with my own push button switch (don't have the key), I pushed the button, and she started right up. Messed around with it for a little bit, turned it on and off multiple times.

I let it sit overnight and went to start it the next morning and all I get is a "click." Battery is good. It is reading 12.6V. When I went to start it the first time it was only 12.3V. I've tried jump starting it just to be sure, but still just a "click" from the starter when I push the button.

Anybody have any ideas?

Sounds like a ground to me... check the ground on the battery and at the starter.

Checked the ground. I'm getting 12.4V between the starter and the engine block so that's not the problem.

hit the starter with a hammer (not hard enough to crack the case)

hit the starter with a hammer (not hard enough to crack the case)

That did the trick. I had hit it a few times with a wrench when I was checking all the connections and no luck. Finally got sick of it and "tapped" it a few times with a 2.5 lb mini-sledge and that solved my problem.

Josh

Your starter is done. Many of those old ones are easy to take apart and replace the worn out parts. I'm assuming the gear or the spring is sticking. The click is because it is taking too much power to move them to engage, so they nothing happens, just click.

So take it off, identify who makes it, and then look for parts or a new/rebuilt one.

Josh

Your starter is done. Many of those old ones are easy to take apart and replace the worn out parts. I'm assuming the gear or the spring is sticking. The click is because it is taking too much power to move them to engage, so they nothing happens, just click.

So take it off, identify who makes it, and then look for parts or a new/rebuilt one.

Yeah what he said. I would replace that pretty soon. There is nothing more frustrating than something not starting. That will be a pretty cheap fix for you.

I'd wait and see if it does it anymore, sometimes after some use the starters will start working fine again. If not fix it.

I'd wait and see if it does it anymore, sometimes after some use the starters will start working fine again. If not fix it.

Well that's awful optimistic thinking. I have seen a starter work for a little bit, nothing of any time frame. Free is great, and I guess if it works, great. But realistically you will be fixing it sometime soon.

Thanks for the info guys. If it continues to be a problem then I'll replace/repair it. We'll see what happens. Thanks again.

Start with your battery grounds. Other than that, try jumping your solenoid, if that dont work drop the starter, use a jump pack, and hook to the hot wire and ground it, the gear should slide out if its not a dead starter. The Gear should move pretty fast, Ive seen dead starters slide out and spin slow and still be a dead starter, so try those. Other than that, I honestly think its your starter

It's definitely the starter. Every time I go to start it now I give it a few good hits with whatever I have available and its fine. Now to troubleshoot the hydraulic and oil leaks that I found today.:(

I think it is the brushes. That is a classic symptom. The brush holder gets against the commutator and holds the worn brush slightly up. When you jar it with the hammer, the brush touches again and off you go. Cheap fix, you should be able to replace brushes for under $5.