The Ford Barn

flash9376 · 03-27-2012, 02:28 PM

As the title says, Im having problems with my starter. Basically, it wont turn the engine over. It was working perfect, but i took my car out for a test drive the other day, during which the saftey fuse blew. After replacing the fuse, the starter wouldnt would turn the engine. I had this problem before but it was because my battery was on its last legs. I have a brand new 6v battery which reads fully charged everytime I check it. Also, the starter works fine when i hook it up to my modern car via jumper cables. Oh, and all the lights and stuff also work so it doesnt seem to be the battery. Is it a bad connection or a bad starter or something? anyone have any ideas? Thank you.

Will N · 03-27-2012, 02:45 PM

Might be time to pull the starter apart and check the brushes.

700rpm · 03-27-2012, 02:49 PM

What caused the fuse to blow? Do you have a good clean ground for the battery?

James Rogers · 03-27-2012, 03:14 PM

Bad ground.

Patrick L. · 03-27-2012, 04:07 PM

I'm with the others regarding a poor ground.. Clean all the related connections, starter, both battery terminals[remove and clean],, remove and clean the ground cable connection at the frame..

juke joint johnny · 03-27-2012, 04:23 PM

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I hope your not jumping a 6 volt battery [thats still conected] with a 12volt battery . I had a friend who tryed that once and the battery blew up in his face. Lucky I was there to take him to hospital !!!!!
John

theHIGHLANDER · 03-27-2012, 04:59 PM

A starter normally doesn't care about voltage. 6 or 12 is OK, but what jj johnny said about the battery is right on. One of the things that tend to bite you in the hiney regarding an "all of a sudden" starter issue is usually poor ground as stated above. How to test is really pretty simple. Connect 1 jumper cable to the starter bolt, or something on the starter motor that you feel is a good ground. Have someone engage the starter, on the 6V battery only, and as it's struggling connect the other end to the frame or a suitable ground area. If it starts working as it should or speeds up, voila, bad ground. The rest has been covered many times so I won't be redundant, but if you end up rebuilding, shimming the field coils a bit closer to the armature will net you high torque faster spinning starter. Old trick learned from a seasoned rebuilder.

Tom Wesenberg · 03-27-2012, 06:34 PM

I've jumped a 6 volt with a 12 volt battery before, but there is only one way to do it in a half way safe mannner. Have the negative from the 12 volt battery connected to the Model A starter switch. Have the positive jumper cable connected to the 12 volt battery and hold the other end NOT connected to anything yet. Have someone turn the key on and start cranking the Model A on it's battery only. As soon as the starter is engaged touch the 12 volt jumper to a good ground on the Model A. Remove the 12 volt jumper from ground as soon as the Model A starts or if it won't start remove it anyway within 10 seconds and crank no more than 10 seconds.

No point in burning up a good starter if something else is keeping the engine from starting.

03-27-2012, 02:28 PM	#1
flash9376 Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 35	starter problems As the title says, Im having problems with my starter. Basically, it wont turn the engine over. It was working perfect, but i took my car out for a test drive the other day, during which the saftey fuse blew. After replacing the fuse, the starter wouldnt would turn the engine. I had this problem before but it was because my battery was on its last legs. I have a brand new 6v battery which reads fully charged everytime I check it. Also, the starter works fine when i hook it up to my modern car via jumper cables. Oh, and all the lights and stuff also work so it doesnt seem to be the battery. Is it a bad connection or a bad starter or something? anyone have any ideas? Thank you.

03-27-2012, 02:45 PM	#2
Will N Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,100	Re: starter problems Might be time to pull the starter apart and check the brushes.

03-27-2012, 02:49 PM	#3
700rpm Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 5,906	Re: starter problems What caused the fuse to blow? Do you have a good clean ground for the battery? __________________ Ray Horton, Portland, OR As you go through life, keep your eye on the donut, not the hole.

03-27-2012, 03:14 PM	#4
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: starter problems Bad ground. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

03-27-2012, 04:07 PM	#5
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: starter problems I'm with the others regarding a poor ground.. Clean all the related connections, starter, both battery terminals[remove and clean],, remove and clean the ground cable connection at the frame..

03-27-2012, 04:23 PM	#6
juke joint johnny Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: London England Posts: 908	Re: starter problems Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I hope your not jumping a 6 volt battery [thats still conected] with a 12volt battery . I had a friend who tryed that once and the battery blew up in his face. Lucky I was there to take him to hospital !!!!! John

03-27-2012, 04:59 PM	#7
theHIGHLANDER Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 492	Re: starter problems A starter normally doesn't care about voltage. 6 or 12 is OK, but what jj johnny said about the battery is right on. One of the things that tend to bite you in the hiney regarding an "all of a sudden" starter issue is usually poor ground as stated above. How to test is really pretty simple. Connect 1 jumper cable to the starter bolt, or something on the starter motor that you feel is a good ground. Have someone engage the starter, on the 6V battery only, and as it's struggling connect the other end to the frame or a suitable ground area. If it starts working as it should or speeds up, voila, bad ground. The rest has been covered many times so I won't be redundant, but if you end up rebuilding, shimming the field coils a bit closer to the armature will net you high torque faster spinning starter. Old trick learned from a seasoned rebuilder.

03-27-2012, 06:34 PM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: starter problems I've jumped a 6 volt with a 12 volt battery before, but there is only one way to do it in a half way safe mannner. Have the negative from the 12 volt battery connected to the Model A starter switch. Have the positive jumper cable connected to the 12 volt battery and hold the other end NOT connected to anything yet. Have someone turn the key on and start cranking the Model A on it's battery only. As soon as the starter is engaged touch the 12 volt jumper to a good ground on the Model A. Remove the 12 volt jumper from ground as soon as the Model A starts or if it won't start remove it anyway within 10 seconds and crank no more than 10 seconds. No point in burning up a good starter if something else is keeping the engine from starting.