Thread: Tractor starter

I'm not sure if this is the best place for this thread - if any moderators think there is a better place, please move it!

Last week, a friend got bogged on the road just out of my place. Got unbogged using a winch, but I not before I tried to start the tractor (Chamberlain 306). Flat battery. At least that is what I thought.

Investigating it later, and fully charging the battery, revealed that the problem was the starter, not the battery. So on Monday, I pulled it off (and let me make it clear, I am no fan of engine manufacturers (Perkins) who design their engine so that to remove the fuel system you have to dismantle the fuel line from lift pump to strainer).

The starter, a CAV CA45D12, on closer examination is like none that I have dealt with before. It has the negative terminal on the end near the brushes, but the positive terminal and the solenoid terminal are on the side next to the flange that mounts to the flywheel housing. And although the solenoid is integral, it is inside the cylinder of the starter. I removed the band covering the brushes, and decided that the brushes are rather worn, and the commutator, what you can see of it, not in real good condition. It spins on the bench, but not very enthusiastically.

Before starting to pull it apart, I sought some more information, and found a bit, including a picture in my sixty years old "Newnes Motor repair". CA_45_Starter.jpg

That was enough for me. Despite having recently repaired the Lucas starter on the 2a, I decided I needed to seek more expert assistance.

So yesterday I took it in to town. I visited my friendly mechanic who does pink slips for me and described the issue, asking him who he would go to. He gave me the name and address of the only bloke in town who he would go to. (If the outcome is good, I will post the name)

The place turned out to be a large corrugated iron shed, with a sliding door open about half a metre. A notice on the door said "Staff Only". Looking in showed the only light was over a bench where someone was working on something unidentifiable on a bench about 5m in. I called out and was told to come in. I made my way along a narrow path winding between piles of bits and pieces and explained what the problem was. He said "bring it in", so I went back out and did so. He glanced at it and said "A CA45 - is it normal or reverse rotation?" I needed an explanation as to what that meant - seems "normal" is where the starter is in front of the flywheel, reverse is where it is behind it - I didn't know anyone did that!

At this stage the boss came in behind me - hunched up and looking ninety (I understand he is only in his eighties). He joined the discussion, said "put it on the floor" and puled a small notebook and a pencil stub out of his pocket and took my details. He agreed with the issue about removing the starter, and was clearly familiar with it. He also commented that anyone not familiar with the starter could get in a lot of trouble pulling it apart.

I am expecting a call today with the price to fix it after it is pulled apart. He said there should be no issues having it done by my next trip to town next week.

Originally Posted by BradC

I got similar when I had an alternator rebuilt. "You can get a new one for less than this'll cost". "Yeah, but will the new one last half as long as the old one did?". Nope.

A bearing seized in the 55 amp Bosch alt in my pos, so took it to the local guy where I'd left an identical one for a rebuild in his spare time a few years before.

Old one couldn't be found...... replacement shell was 'sourced' somehow, new bearings, etc, and a spare brush holder provided for nix. He just said I'd given a lot around the town for nix....goes around and comes around.

Gives one faith in memory / respect / dunno. I just do what is easy for me and give it away which is maybe stupid, dunno.

DL