Starter question

[DrankTheOrangeKoolaid]

Earlier this summer the starter in my M6800 started acting up. Sometimes it would crank over and other times I would just hear the solenoid click. Then it gave up the ghost and would not crank at all. I pulled the starter and bench tested it. Solenoid was fine, but wouldn't spin. I gave it a small spin by hand and tried again, it spun. Tried a few more time, some times it would spin some times it wouldn't. I took it apart and started doing checks as per the WSM. When I removed the brushes, I noticed one of the brushes was stuck in the channel it slides in. I got the brush moving again and reassembled the starter. Put it back and the tractor fired right up... started better than it ever had since I owned it (normally it lugs when starting and takes 10 or 20 seconds to start, now it was starting instantly).

After about a month it started lugging again and today it will not crank at all. I am about to pull the starter and I expect to find a stuck brush again.

My question is, is there something I can use to lube that track or am I more likely to make things worse? I was thinking graphite powder.

 

[lynnmor]

The graphite might help but know that it will conduct electricity and may cause some arcing. I would replace the brushes and maybe the brush holders.

 

[dvcochran]

Earlier this summer the starter in my M6800 started acting up. Sometimes it would crank over and other times I would just hear the solenoid click. Then it gave up the ghost and would not crank at all. I pulled the starter and bench tested it. Solenoid was fine, but wouldn't spin. I gave it a small spin by hand and tried again, it spun. Tried a few more time, some times it would spin some times it wouldn't. I took it apart and started doing checks as per the WSM. When I removed the brushes, I noticed one of the brushes was stuck in the channel it slides in. I got the brush moving again and reassembled the starter. Put it back and the tractor fired right up... started better than it ever had since I owned it (normally it lugs when starting and takes 10 or 20 seconds to start, now it was starting instantly).

After about a month it started lugging again and today it will not crank at all. I am about to pull the starter and I expect to find a stuck brush again.

My question is, is there something I can use to lube that track or am I more likely to make things worse? I was thinking graphite powder.

Any good die-electric grease should work. Like this.
CRC Di-Electric Grease: Silicone, Clear, 10 oz, NLGI Grade 2, NSF Rating H1 Food Grade - 2F136|03082 - Grainger
You can find it cheaper.

 

[Vlach7]

I would stick with the graphite.

 

[fried1765]

I would stick with the graphite.

Yup......graphite!
Dielectric grease will tend to pick up dirt, and perhaps cause a new problem.

 

[number two]

Maybe by now the commutator needs to be turned/cleaned up?
Good Luck!

 

[DrankTheOrangeKoolaid]

Dismantled the starter today. Always fun working on stuff in the snow at -5C. As I suspected, one of the brushes was stuck in its track. Removed the brushes from the tracks and used a small screwdriver to scrape the crud out of the tracks. Gave the brushes a light rub with emery cloth and put the brushes back in their tracks. They all moved much more easily. I opted to not use any lubricant. Reassembled the starter and reinstalled it. Tractor fired right up (after a few seconds of glow plugs).

If it happens again it is new brushes and brush holder, but that is a C$150 touch.

 

[DrankTheOrangeKoolaid]

Maybe by now the commutator needs to be turned/cleaned up?
Good Luck!

Did that when this happened the first time.

 

[BAP]

I would check all your electrical connections from battery to starter. You may not be getting the proper amount of power which is causing the starter to develop this issue over and over.

 

[DrankTheOrangeKoolaid]

I would check all your electrical connections from battery to starter. You may not be getting the proper amount of power which is causing the starter to develop this issue over and over.

That was done earlier this year for a different problem. I have done a voltage drop test on both the positive and negative battery leads.