series 60 bad starter?

You may have destroyed the starter, I doubt it. I’ve smoked mine a few times. 20 yrs old. Still works great. 10 gallons of Delvac at Walmart’s $130. Your not the first to find out about using Lucas in winter time. I was in the same boat 13 mos ago. Coldest day of the year. It took 2 vehicles, and a generator for block heater and ether to get it started. Neighbor was in same boat also with his Detroit. Took Me 6 hrs to get it started. His never did start. We got a good laugh out of it later. All because of Lucas. His engine finally blew last month. I’ve got to start mine before 5 am, tomorrow. No more Lucas, fresh inframe. Temps dropping quick.Been sitting for 2 mos. only started it once about a month ago. It’s got 13 amps showing. Wish me Luck, Lol. Not leaving till noon. I’ve got 7 hrs. if I need it. I’m guessing it’ll start right up as usual. Cut back on the Lucas, too much causes rockers to get all sludged up.

 

Also, push clutch in while cranking, ( not to the floor ) it’s supposed to help engine spin easier.

 

Brushes that contact thr armature could be well worn but, sounds as if some of the field is not making contact. The starter will 'motor' fast without a load but ,when it gets the load it doesn't have enough magnetic polarization to pull it. Plug up the block heater if so equipped , use a torpedo heater or similar and heat up the oil in the pan, this makes it easier on every thing. Hope this helps!

 

Block heater is easy and simple to install. It’s basically just an electric hot water heater element. Stubby short type. Hardest part is draining coolant. I wouldn’t bother starter, unless it still won’t crank. You could probably rent a torpedo heater for 2 hrs. Or just change oil. Either way I bet it’ll start right up without ether. Mine did this morning still 27 degrees here.

 

Why not just put a heater on the oil pan. They make good stick on ones that work good. Try pouring Lucas out of the bottle when its 10 degrees outside.. it won't.

 

Got that right, Lol. Must be 130 weight or better. I never saw stick on heaters. Probably work better than the standard coolant block heaters. Heating the oil instead. I like that idea better.

 

I've used something like this on the oil pan of one our John deeres that didn't have a block heater. .made the oil nice and warm. When you started cranking you could tell as soon as that warm oil hit the moving parts to started to spin faster

 

Rideandrepair has a good ideal , don't pull the starter just yet. Do a little more warming before you go that route , the starter is a pain to remove. Getter good and toasty , then try cranking it over . Your heavy oil will still be in the oil pump if you change it, the PRV will dump any excess pressure . But , I think warming up will be the best .