KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

I use my tractor with mower to cut the grass around the perimeter of our property so it is easier to walk the dogs (1.1 mile total). After mowing I parked it by my workshop.

A week or so later I tried to use it, turned the key and nothing happened. I mean nothing, no click, or any other sound at all. Charged the battery but it was really old so I decided to get a new one to be ready for winter (almost $200). Hooked it up, turned the key ... nothing again. Tested the battery & it was charged. Replaced start switch ... nothing. Replaced solenoid ... nothing. I really didn't need it yet, so it just sat there for over a month.

A friend of mine came over & we finally determined the problem was the starter (weighs 26 pounds). Took the end plate off & also noticed the post was quite loose, also very oily and dirty inside. The tractor is a 1958 and I already had this starter rebuilt once. Took it to the place that rebuilt it before (35 miles away) and found out they don't do that anymore.

Checked online. Not much help. Amazon had a company in Minnesota that had the one I needed for $273.

I'm cheap, so I finally tore the whole thing apart & discovered a small piece broke off the end of a metal bar coming from the field on one side. So I trimmed the end of the metal bar & drilled a hole in the end of it. Not easy, the drill kept wandering. I finally wedged a bar under it so I could center-punch it. Finally drilled the hole though. Then I had to tap it for threads ... that took some doing.

Cut up a piece of inner-tube for an insulator on both sides of that post. The post goes through a square spacer on the casing. That square spacer is only about a 1/2 inch square and the original piece was quite damaged. Looked around for a non-conductive replacement & found just the thing on a leg of something. Cut and ground that small piece to fit, then drilled a hole in the middle of it and then filed it to a square hole to fit the post.

Cleaned it all up, put it back together & hoped for the best.

Works like a charm. $0.oo money spent ... maybe about 3-5 hours work. And satisfaction! Used the phone as my hands were very dirty & oily/greasy during all of this.

1958 Case 811-B

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Teardown

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The end piece that broke off

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Tapping that bar

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Compromised spacer on left, new spacer on right

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Spacer deployed

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Here's where that red square came from

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Post secured

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Starter installed

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Doesn't look too pretty ... but to me, a thing of beauty, and a good job done.

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William Loc: Mississippi

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Grump's Photos Loc: Dunedin FL

I love the “ It ain’t gonna beat me”, mindset! You just might be in the running for the 2023 MacGyver Award! Nothing like the satisfaction that comes from figuring out how to successfully fix a problem. Good job👍👍!
Andy

tsca Loc: USA

It is a thing of beauty, and a good job done! Now how do you explain where that red square came from?

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

That's a nice looking rig, Kim. It's ten years younger than me , but looks to be in better shape. Well done on the repair.

chuckrem Loc: Katy, Tx

Nice work! Glad you got it fixed.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Nice set !!
you might try Cook Tractor Parts in Clinton Mo. I was up there yesterday huge place It's a 50/50 chance
Does your tractor still have a crank on it ?
Did a job on 50+ years ago a 411B with Case-O-Matic drive I had all kinds of trouble with the job,I changes the complete rear section to get rid of the COM drive bought parts from a Tractor Salvage yard that were supposed to fit My first problem was the flywheel was to thick on the engine side a couple of hours on the lathe and 1" of metal removed it when on the crankshaft , ohhh wrong bolt pattern another hr or so re-drilled the bolt holes Yeahhhh
and it went on and on finally bolted the two pieces together and guess what. , no place for a starter!!! Luckily it started with one pull on the crank, the next day I drove the tractor over to the guys house he ask how much ?
I said nothing But I never want to see That tractor again, I saw him in town about three weeks later and he was tickled pink!!Oh btw I had the damned thing at my house for three years.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Mr. B Loc: eastern Connecticut

Nice job. You're frugal and creative enough to be a Yankee farmer. Ayuh!

alberio Loc: Casa Grande AZ

I love it when someone actually repairs a part, rather than replacing it. Your tractor is looking good.

Wasabi

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Now that's how repairs are supposed to work! Nowadays nobody knows how to repair stuff. They just replace it - and for $$$$$. Good job!

Now if you had had a Farmall instead, that wouldn't have happened!

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Fantastic series and thanks for sharing your ingenuity. That's the way fellows on the farm had to think back in the day. I hope these instincts and creative skills are not lost to the younger generation.

JBRIII

There are special bits for starting holes that don't wander. They come in sets of different sizes and are pretty inexpensive. Can't remember proper name. I just wished I'd remember them when I'm in your situation.
Check tools for milling, etc. They have a very different tip and short cutting length so not good for drilling a deep hole, but great for starting one. HarborFreight may sell them.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good series and a great job, KT, your first shot is excellent.