JD600 electric start issue

[Deleted User]

I have a 1975 JD 600 with a 440 engine. The engine was freshly rebuilt over this past summer. I am finding that when I use the electric start that it will hardly turn over the engine. I have tried a different battery with the same results. Each battery was charged before being put in the sled. I have also had the starter apart and everything looks in great shape. When the starter was out of the engine we hooked it to power and it appeared to spin easily and freely. Guess I should check the cables next.
Does anyone have any good ideas as to where to start in the diagnosis? How would one test the starter to see if there are actual problems with it? Any other suggestions to correct this issue?

Thanks
Adam

[harleysportster]

Adam,
Make sure the ground cable from the battery is bolted directly to the engine. Next, remove the starter cable at the solenoid and place a HEAVY jumper lead from the positive terminal of the battery, to the starter cable end that was removed from the solenoid. This bypasses the ignition switch and starter solenoid. If the engine cranks over, either the ignition switch is bad or the ssolenoid.

[afponiky]

Harley is right there with that answer. It is in your switch I believe. Jump it like Harley said and you will know the answer.


Gary (GRP)

[Deleted User]

While I was waiting for a reply I did some other searching on the internet and came up with a good article on voltage drop tests:

http://www.aa1car.com/library/voltage_drop_testing.htm

I found that the battery ground cable was connected to the battery box mount. The battery box connects to the frame but I decided to move the ground connection to the engine as one of you suggested. I disconnected each cable and sanded each cable end, also roughed up the battery posts as well as cleaned the posts on the solenoid. I made sure everything was tight and all seems to work properly now. It spins the engine as it should.

Thanks for the information!
Adam