MF 390T Gear Reduction Starter Upgrade

This winter the starter on my MF390T had become lazy and was barely starting the engine or even requiring a boost on the coldest Days. I tried a few different 110AH batteries and tested the alternator with a meter, so I knew it was time for a replacement starter.

As well as the new starter, I thought it would be a good idea to replace the battery leads at the same time.

The new starter is longer and narrower than the original, this doesn’t cause too much issue but the water pipe going to the oil cooler needed to be temporarily moved to install the new one.

The terminal one the new starter is bigger than the original, so any crimped loops on the wires need to be replaced with larger ones. Luckily the new battery leads were pre crimped with big enough connectors.

The connector was however a little too square at the top and it was interfering with fitting the lead, so I rounded it a little more with a grinder.

It was very cold the last few morning and the tractor started without issue. I installed a similar starter in a 698T a few years ago and it also starts without issue in this cold weather even though it currently only has a 70AH battery in it. Previously the 698T would struggle to start on a cold morning with 2 new 100AH batteries installed.