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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Starter Help

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Discussion Topic: Starter Help -- page: 1 2

bmwillia

05-03-2012 @ 6:44 PM

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Hey everyone,

I am trying to get the flathead in my 33 running and I am having a problem right now where the motor will turn over with the plugs out but when the plugs are in, the starter engages and the pulleys budge a little and stop.

I have a new battery that was bought a few weeks ago and freshly charged. All of the connections look clean. I have cleaned the battery terminals and cables although I saw no sign of corrosion.

I will also mention that I have minimal wiring at this point. I have the neg. battery cable to the solenoid, then the starter cable to the other side of the solenoid. I have a wire from the battery side of the solenoid to the resistor/fuse block and then to the coil.

I am getting good voltage to the starter.

Do I need to rebuild or replace it?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Thanks!

Brad Williamson

TomO

05-04-2012 @ 8:28 AM

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You did not say if you have a 12 volt system or a 6 volt system, so my answers are for a 6 volt POS ground system.

Your battery cables must be 6 volt cables (0 or 00 gauge).

The ground connection from the battery must be clean and free of paint.

The grounding connection between the starter end plate and the oil pan must be free of paint.

If you have a volt meter, connect the COM lead to the NEG post of the battery and the + lead of the meter to the lug on the starter. Read the meter while the starter is engaged and trying to turn the motor. The meter should read .5 V maximum. Any higher reading means too much resistance in the circuit. You can move the + lead of the meter to a connection point closer to the battery to isolate the resistance.

The ground circuit can be checked by connecting the + lead of the meter to the POS post of the battery and the COM lead of the meter to the case of the starter. A reading of more than .1 volt means excessive resistance in the ground circuit.

Tom

supereal

05-04-2012 @ 9:54 AM

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It is likely that the starter, itself, is the problem. One or more of the brushes may be stuck in their holder. The commutator may be very dirty, or the bushings badly worn. Look at the pole shoes when you have it apart. If you see evidence of scr*ping, the armature is probably being pulled into the shoes when the starter is activated because the bushings are egg-shaped. Be sure you have a good ground strap between the engine and the battery, and that the face of the starter and the clutch housing is clean and bright.

bmwillia

05-04-2012 @ 6:50 PM

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Thanks guys!

I started cleaning up the ground connections this evening.

I tested with a multimeter at the hot post of the starter with it engaged and I am seeing 2v. Well over the.5 Tom said I should have.

I want to try cleaning the grounds before pulling the starter.

Thanks!

Brad Williamson

TomO

05-05-2012 @ 7:33 AM

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The 2 volts that you are seeing is the result of resistance in the circuit from the battery to the starter.

You may have undersized cables or your starter switch could have high resistance. Check by moving the meter probe to the input of the starter switch and take another reading. If it is less than .2 volts then move the meter lead to the output of the switch.

If it is more than .2 volts, your battery cable is undersized or the connections are corroded.

Tom

This message was edited by TomO on 5-5-12 @ 7:34 AM

bmwillia

05-05-2012 @ 2:55 PM

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I pulled the starter and cleaned the face where it connectes to the motor. I have cleaned all of the grounds and have metal on metal at every one.

I put the starter back on the engine connected everything back up and now nothing happens when I hit the solenoid switch. I used to hear the starter engage and the pulleys would move slightly.

I checked voltage with the solenoid engaged and I am now getting .02 volts when the solenoid is engaged.

It seems that the starter is bad. what do you all think?

Thanks

Thanks!

Brad Williamson

TomO

05-06-2012 @ 8:36 AM

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Brad,

Just removing and replacing the starter, should not cause it it fail in this manner.

Did the starter come apart when you removed it? if so, the brushes may not be seated on the commutator.

Check the ground connection of the starter to the oil pan and back to the battery also.

Your Bendix drive could also be jammed into the flywheel.

Tom

supereal

05-06-2012 @ 8:52 AM

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If you don't hear the solenoid click when you push the starter button, start (no pun) there. To eliminate that as a cause, run a jumper directly from the battery hot side to the starter input terminal. Just be sure that the car is out of gear, and the ignition is off. If the starter turns the engine over, it is OK. If not, either order a replacement, or rebuild it, if you know how.

bmwillia

05-06-2012 @ 3:30 PM

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Ok..

I took the starter back off and apart. I must have had the brushes jammed up or something because it is back to doing what it was before.

I think that my battery cables and switch to starter cable may be too small. Some guys over at the fordbarn.com suggested that the battery cables should be at least single 0 or 00 guage.

Thanks for the input guys! I am slowly working through this.

Thanks!

Brad Williamson

bmwillia

05-06-2012 @ 6:10 PM

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Super,

I tried your suggestion and got nothing. I heard a click in the starter, but I didn't get any movement.

Looks like it is time for a new starter.

Thanks!

Brad Williamson

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