Mostly clicks, sometimes starts

[Joe Shmo 157]

My 1981 c125 when turning key just clicks.  After I keep turning off and on it will start.  My question is this a solenoid issue or something else?

[rjg854 11,361]

The first thing to check is:

make sure your battery is in good shape, have it load tested.

[oldlineman 1,481]

Then check and clean all electrical connections, if good then may be a solenoid issue or starter issue. Don't buy parts till every connection is clean and tight . Bob

[Joe Shmo 157]

Will clean and tighten everything tomorrow. Thank you 

[953 nut 55,204]

[ri702bill 8,316]

I had a similar problem with the C81 - turned out to be the starter itself - had a cracked magnet - may (must?) have been dropped by the previous owner... Starter innards were good - switched housings, good to go...

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,041]

Check the short ground cable between the engine and the tractor frame. The shaker plate fatigues the wires in it.

[kpinnc 12,016]

Sounds like a sticky solenoid or a dirty/ loose connection somewhere around it. 

[Ed Kennell 38,159]

12 hours ago, Joe Shmo said:

Will clean and tighten everything tomorrow. Thank you 

Don't forget the ignition switch .  You'll have to remove it to  clean the lugs.

 

If the problem still exists check the starter.   With the switch off, connect a jumper cable to the big lug on the starter side of the solenoid then touch it to the plus post on the battery. The starter should instantly engage and spin the engine.      Then move the jumper to the small terminal on the solenoid and make the same test.   If the starter engages and spins the engine, the solenoid is good.    If both starter and solenoid are good,   order a new ignition switch.

[953 nut 55,204]

We can take Ed's advice a couple steps further if needed.

Lets take a logical step by step inspection of your starter problem.

Is your PTO in the ON position, a wheel horse will not start with the PTO on.

Have you had the battery load tested at an auto parts store?

Have you cleaned and tightened all electrical connections including grounds?

Are all fuses good and fuse holders cleaned?

If these have all been done, we can check components of the starting system as follows; don’t skip a step or you may miss the problem.

Be sure the transmission is in neutral and the parking brake is set.

Take a pair of automotive jumper cables and connect the black cable to your battery  "-" and a good clean spot on the engine. Now connect the other cable to the large post on the starter and touch the other end to the battery "+" terminal, does the starter turn over? If the starter turns over the battery and starter are good. If it didn't turn over try the same steps with the battery in your car/truck, if that cures the problem then the "good" battery wasn't so good.

Presuming the starter turned over move the jumper wire from the starter post to the other end of the wire going to the starter which is one of the large posts on the solenoid. If the starter turns over when the battery is touched by the jumper as before then that cable is good, if not you have found your problem.

Presuming the starter turned over move that jumper to the other terminal of the solenoid, connect the other end to the battery and use a small piece of wire to temporarily connect the battery "+" terminal to the small terminal on the solenoid, this should cause the solenoid to close and the starter to turn over. If not, the solenoid is probably the problem.

If this was successful remove the large jumper cable and use the small jumper wire to the small terminal of the solenoid, the solenoid should close and the starter turn over. If not the cable to the battery is the problem.

Presuming all of these have been successful remove the black jumper wire and repeat the small jumper to small terminal, if the starter turns over the ground is good.

If all of these components test good then remove your ignition switch, be sure the transmission is in neutral, parking brake on, clutch depressed and PTO off. Use a small jumper to connect the terminals that were connected to the “B” and “S” terminals of the ignition switch. If the starter turns over then the PTO switch and other safety switches are operating properly and your ignition switch may be bad.

[Joe Shmo 157]

Tightened battery terminals and so far no click.  

[Joe Shmo 157]

Still not working.  How do I go about finding a solenoid?

[Ed Kennell 38,159]

Don't buy parts till you find the problem.    To check the starter use a jumper cable directly to the starter.     Connect one end to the post on the starter, then touch the other end to the positive post on the battery. If the starter engages and spins the engine, the starter is working.   To check the solenoid,  move the jumper to the small post on the solenoid, then touch the other end to the positive post on the battery. if the starter engages, the solenoid is OK.   The ignition switch or wiring to  the switch is bad.

[953 nut 55,204]

First do your trouble shooting to be sure you need a solenoid. A bit of work went into the guide I posted and it will save you from spending money on parts you don't need. Tightening a battery cable is not a bad start but you need to know the cable is good and not the cause of your problem. 

If you want to buy a new solenoid you can go to any auto parts store and ask for a 12 volt ford solenoid for a blue 1976 F-150. They are all the same but the kid behind the counter needs to fill in all the boxes on his computer screen before he can find a part number.

[wallfish 16,994]

16 minutes ago, Joe Shmo said:

Still not working.  How do I go about finding a solenoid?

Not trying to be a #$$%K but if the only thing you have tried so far was tightening the connections at the battery terminals after all of the advise given, it's possible it's going to be a long road. (That's all you posted about troubleshooting and steps you've taken so the assumption is, that's all that was tried so far).

 

Just search "12v starter solenoid" online and buy one. Or go to a good local hardware store and buy one. Changing it will definitely have a result of at least those connections being taken care of and solenoids are fairly cheap and easy to change anyway. It's possible that could be the solution and it also gets it one step closer if it isn't.

 

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

Clean the grounds for the negative battery cable and ground for the solenoid.  Sand and wire brush to bare metal for both.  The solenoid will either have a wire to the frame somewhere close, if not it’s self grounded by the mounting bolts.  So clean the frame area to whichever you have.  
 

lots of good youtube vids for testing solenoids and key switches and starters if cleaning the grounds doesn’t fix it

[Joe Shmo 157]

Thanks for all the help and the scolding.  Solenoid for a 1976 Ford 150 fixed it.

[953 nut 55,204]

7 hours ago, Joe Shmo said:

Thanks for all the help and the scolding.  Solenoid for a 1976 Ford 150 fixed it.

          You mean to tell me they didn't need to know what color it was.            

[wallfish 16,994]

10 hours ago, Joe Shmo said:

Thanks for all the help and the scolding.  Solenoid for a 1976 Ford 150 fixed it.

Drill the rivets out of that old solenoid, open it up and take a look inside. Guaranteed it will help you understand what's actually going on in the starter circuit. It's already "broke" so nothing to worry about breaking it more. My motto is "learn something new today"

You can actually clean up the ring and contacts and then use nuts and bolts to replace the rivets and keep it for a spare.