Starter Solenoid

[roy697]

Looking for some help locating a starter solenoid for my Fujian FT 404. Starter & solenoid work fine right now but the plastic where the wires connect is damaged. Only a matter of time before she comes apart. Affordable tractor sales could not fine me one. If I could get a solenoid to take apart I would be willing to try surgery.




Roy

[Rich Waugh]

Since that solenoid is still working Roy, I'd think about potting hat broken plastic in some J-B Weld while you can. If you stabilize it that way it should continue to work for years, giving you lots of time to find a replacement.

Rich

[roy697]

The tractor will be 6 1/2 hours from home. Nothing on the property yet. If it quits their I have to borrow a trailer to get it home to work on it, I think dependability is the issue. I could buy a whole starter but that is pricey.

[bradblazer]

If the wires are sound it should be as good as new if you re-pot it. I like epoxy putty for that because I can mold it like clay and it retains it's shape. JB weld is a little runny.

[Rich Waugh]

The epoxy putty is a god idea if you can get it to mold tightly around the wires. Much easier to deal with than the J-B Weld which is, as Brad says, runny. It stays runny for a couple hours, too.

My solution, since I have a lot of the J-B Weld and no putty, is to make a "form" from kids plasticine modeling clay and pour the J-B Weld into that. Works just dandy and when the epoxy has all set up I can peel the plasticine off and put it back to use for practicing new forging operations, it main reason for existence in my shop.

Either way, re-potting those contacts will extend their life for many years if done right, and is way cheaper than even a new solenoid, much less a new starter assembly. Hey, I admit I'm a cheap s.o.b.!

Rich

[roy697]

Did I mention I was doing this on a shoestring.

[ronj]

Roy,
Here is a solenoid that you can have. It is off a Jinma 284. The OD is about 2-5/16 and the depth of the plastic cap is about 15/16. Send me a PM with a shipping address if you want it.
RonJ

[roy697]

Thanks a lot. Looks very close.
After looking up your area I see your quite a way over their. I have been thru that area 2 times years ago. Love the mountains.


Message sent.
THANKS

[ronj]

Roy,
I haven't gotten a message with an shipping address. Better go to my Profile and send an Email.
RonJ

[roy697]

Went shopping to a starter & alternator place my brother told me about. The guy was able match a solenoid from a Bosh with the same bolt pattern but was a bit different. The end had to be opened up a bit, about .03" with a little file to get it over the fork.

I could have saved me a ton of hours if I had a lathe. The spacer is made from 2" pipe then cut to make it smaller diameter.

Put it together & took it apart 6 times before I got it just right, then I insulated the connections, then caulked it to keep the water out & painted it.



Bottom line for the day is it seems to be working. New starter with solenoid was just under $300, my fix with a modified solenoid, less than $40 but lots of labor.
Figured a way to make the wiring work. The solenoid was a bit shorter so I made a jumper.

[GuglioLS]

Impressive mod, Looks great with the paint and better yet it works.
Nice job !

Larry

[roy697]

Thanks
Thanks again Ron for the used solenoid. I will remove the parts I need & rebuild mine, spare parts are great. Tractor is now 90% ready for the farm.

Roy