Starter Electrical Problem
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=190810
Printed Date: 05 Apr 2026 at 10:46am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Starter Electrical Problem
Posted By: CrestonM
Subject: Starter Electrical Problem
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2022 at 8:53pm
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Working on an off color riding mower (anyone got an old Allis rider for sale?) and I’ve hit a wall. Problem was I could turn the key to start and you could hear the bendix engaging, but you’d have to turn the key off and back to start position a dozen times to get the starter to actually turn. Then it would crank fine. Recently everything quit. No solenoid clicking, even though battery is fully charged. Decided to take the starter off, which was a big chore in itself. Hooked jumper cables straight to the starter after I removed it and the bendix extends and the starter turns, every time I put power to it. At the ends of the 2 starter wires, the battery cable has 12 volts, as does the solenoid wire whenever I turn the key to “start”. Every time. Tested it over a dozen times. When I hook the wires back to the starter, they both still have power when key is in “start” mode, and even with a dedicated ground wire on the starter (starter still removed from engine at this point) there is no response. I can’t figure out why it works fine when hooked direct to the battery but not when hooked to the wiring harness, even though it has 12 V going to it, and a dedicated ground wire running from the clean starter to the clean negative battery post. |
Replies:
Posted By: SteveM C/IL
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2022 at 9:16pm
| Got a Simplicity Zero with similar issue. Has to be bad connection but haven't found it.....just keep twisting key. Know this. Just because you have 12V at the end of a wire doesn't meant the connection will carry the amps. |
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2022 at 9:26pm
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YEP... solenoid is bad or one of the cables is rotted end on it.. Your getting 12 volts, but not enough amps to move the starter... jumper across the solenoid with cable / pliers and see if it cranks.. check cable ends for corrosion... bad ground on strap. ------------- Like them all, but love the "B"s. |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2022 at 9:34pm
| I'm going to go take a better look at the ends of the cables tomorrow. Could be internal corrosion of the positive battery cable I suppose? I've seen it once before, but what causes that? |
Posted By: Leesok
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2022 at 10:30pm
| Go buy a new battery |
Posted By: Tbone95
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2022 at 6:32am
 As everyone said, you have a weak connection somewhere, showing power, but not carrying current.
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CrestonM wrote:Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2022 at 7:30am
Load tester shows it's good.
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Posted By: Stan R
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2022 at 7:32am
| Get a set up jumpers and connect + to solenoid and starter lug from + battery. |
Posted By: tadams(OH)
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2022 at 8:05am
| I had one that it would quit running but if you was fast enough at wiggling the key it would keep running, replaced ingition and problem solved |
Posted By: CrestonM
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 11:59am
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Ended up replacing the positive cable as well as the key switch since the dealer had one on hand. The old cable did appear to have internal corrosion after I cut the end off to get a better cross section view. Back up and running now! Thanks guys |
Posted By: plummerscarin
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2022 at 12:26pm
 Thanks for letting us know
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