what did i do to my starter motor?

[diggerdave65]

Hi All--
Long story short-- for many years now there were times when a battery was shot (or about dead) on a tractor I was fixing... so to start the engine I would take an extra car battery I had laying around and jump the engine with a set of jumper cables. Ground terminal to the frame and with the positive cable I would touch the terminal on the starter motor while turning the tractor ignition key. Question: is this a bad/dumb thing to do? I ask b/c for the first time I actually had a starter motor fry. Have i really just been lucky all these years??? If this is not a good practice why?? If I need to do a jump should the cables go to the semi-dead battery insted?? thanks for any input. dave

[jkilov]

Most turf equipment comes with a 6V battery whilst vehicles have 12V.

[MowerMedic77]

Most turf equipment comes with a 6V battery whilst vehicles have 12V.

What commercial equipment are you working on:confused: Even residential lawn tractors are 12 volt systems.

[NIXRAY]

Like MowerMedic said most "disposable lawn/garden tractors" from the big box stores come with 12v systems.
Diggerdave could you see the 'bedix' when you were jump starting the starter, I've done your method for years and will continue to use this method, you just have to really watch the bendix cause it can 'freeze' and if you continue you will sure burn it up, I'm assuming you simply cranked on the starter to long or is was faulty!

[Restrorob]

I don't recall seeing a 6 volt system either.....


digger and NIX,

When you use any jumper straight to the starter post, Clamp the positive cable to the starter and touch the negative to the frame. This reduces arching/pitting up the post threads/nut that could hamper nut removal down the road.

[topsites]

It could have just been the starter's time to go.

[betmr]

I jump off the starter post a lot, 'cause some batteries are hard to get too. You are doing nothing wrong, because in reality the starter is connected directly to the battery, via the starter solenoid. Sounds like a bad starter. In my opinion.