Model A starter clunk then no electrical

[steve s]

Originally Posted by Albany Tom

.... Post for battery cable has 3 insulated washers between cable and the switch housing.
....

One thing I don't get is why would a jammed Bendix cause the electrical issue I'm seeing?

Originally Posted by Albany Tom

.....
So
1) If i connect the starter battery cable directly to the wire to the fuse setup, without the starter, I get lights, horn, etc.
2) If I connect the starter back in with the fuse in, I get (bad) continuity between ground and anything positive (e.g. starter post or fuse brackets).
3) Remove the fuse and what should be electrically isolated is again, at least on the starter side of the fuse.

So I think this means the problem is in the junction box or coil?
.... Tom

I think your answer lies in these sections, if only I could understand for sure what you're saying? There are TWO wires "to the fuse setup", one at each end of the fuse; I wonder which do you mean in 1) above? In 2), you should get a reading of about 12 V (when using DC volts scale) "between ground and anything positive"; on the ohms scale all bets are off what you might see.

BUT, making some guesses as to what you meant, if in 1) you meant you connected the battery cable directly to the wire from the junction box, the fact the lights work means there's nothing wrong in the junction box, or your grounds, or your starter, or the switch, or the cutoff switch, etc.; if the lights go out when you put the fuse back in the circuit, which is what I understand from 2), it means something's wrong with the FUSE or its connections!! TRY ANOTHER FUSE. DON'T TEST IT--I DON'T TRUST YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR METER.

Exactly where are those "3 insulated washers"? Assuming they are on the post that sticks up out of the back of the starter switch, THEY ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY THE SOURCE OF YOUR PROBLEM--REMOVE THEM. Other than not grounding to the case of the switch, nothing there is to be insulated from anything else there: the battery cable, the post, the wire going to the fuse holder, and possible a regular metal washer are all to be electrically joined and snugged together by the thin nut. Poor or intermittent contact of the battery cable thru a stack of insulated washers would explain everything.

If I misunderstood what you were saying, i apologize; please disregard. I apologize if I sounded too gruff; typing is a real pita for me, and I'm often in a bad mood by the time I finish.

good luck
steve