I finally diagnosed the problem with my 1975 Ford 3400 backhoe that had been giving me starting problems all winter long. I purchased this machine as "Scrap" last spring after it had been sitting dead in a field for about 10 years. It needed a fair amount of work done on it but not a lot of money overall. As far as the "starting system" is concerned, I had put a new ignition switch, starter solenoid, starter, and voltage regulator in it, as well as replaced some of the wiring. The tractor ran great all summer and fall and I performed a lot of critical "digging/grading" work that I needed to do. Turn the key and its 3 cylinder gas engine would IMMEDIATELY roar to life. As winter approached, I dropped the hoe off it and installed a swinging drawbar so I could use it as a wood hauler for my trailer. Things were going great until the really cold weather set in. I went out to start it one frozen morning and it was dead ............... turn the key and absolutely nothing .................... not even a "click". I couldn't find anything wrong, but as soon as it warmed back up slightly the tractor started/ran perfect again. This run/dead cycle continued giving me trouble all winter, and it was obviously tied into very low temp periods below about 20 degrees for some reason. I first thought it was a battery issue, but the battery showed full power. I then suspected it might be a neutral safety switch issue, so I spliced the wires on it TEMPORARLY to bypass it, but that didn't work. I then moved to the ignition switch thinking water may have gotten in there and ice was restricting something. I de-iced the ignition and thoroughly lubed it up ................... still no go. I rechecked all the wiring and connections, made no difference. Things warmed back up ...................... it ran again perfect. I was pretty much left with the starter solenoid and starter, both "new". I decided to wait until it froze/died again, and then to try and heat up the starter solenoid to see if it made a difference. It warmed up enough last weekend that it ran fine, then was dead on Mon/Tue. I checked it again yesterday and it was dead, so I took my daughter's hair dryer out and blasted the solenoid on "High" for about 5 minutes to heat it up. I turned the key an presto, it roared to life!!!! It turned out to be a defective starter solenoid. I don't know what's inside these solenoids as far as components go, never took one apart. This one obviously has an issue that it works fine until the temp drops to the critical point that something is failing inside. A contraction/expansion issue? Just thought I would share this frustrating issue with you folks in case something like this ever happens to one of your pieces of equipment.
Sure is nice you were able to find the problem . . . The solenoid is probably made in China? Anymore you have little control of where the parts come from? Do not replace it with the same brand.
Glad you saved that machine. It looks fine to me. I'll bet there are many more years in it before it should be scrap.
That makes sense. Things get tighter when cold...and that solenoid probably got too tight to actuate when cold. It could probably be cleaned up and/or rebuilt and give many more years of service. I wouldn't toss it...your new one may have the same thing happen to it too...would be nice to have a spare for short $.
Nice tractor can't believe that was "scrap"!! Little things can be frustrating. Especially new things.
The problem is, if I break down and spend 2 or 3 times as much for an OEM Ford/New Holland one, it will probably have been made in China too!
Your name says it all ....................... Savemoney !!! I'd been looking at used hoes for 2 years and they were all out of my price range. I gambled and took a chance on rebuilding this one and really lucked out! Saved a lot of $$$$$. And for all I know, the old one might have still been good. I just automatically replaced it to rule out having things like this pop up!!!
I don't think you can rebuild this type of solenoid, it seems all sealed up. They cost $15-20 for "aftermarket" ones shipped.
Sounds like you might have had moisture in the solenoid that froze when it got cold. Can happen if there is a defective joint that should be sealed somewhere. There is always the screwdriver start method when those solenoids let you down.
That's a bit different than I had pictured. I've used the screwdriver method many times. Pliers work good too.
