The Ford Barn

Tom in TN · 11-04-2013, 02:09 PM

Hey ya'll, just need to bounce this off you and get a few suggestions.
Car is a '34 with a '36 engine and a 12v elec system...been using the 6v starter for more than 10 years. Probably have 6k on the motor.

Car ran fine when I drove it to our clubhouse yesterday afternoon, cranked and came back home ok. parked in front of the garge door to raise it and it would not recrank. (had to push it into the garage)
STATUS:
I press the starter button and get the solenoid to click. That's it.

Battery voltage is 12.7v.

Hooked a charger to the battery, pumped 225amps into it and still only get the click.

Turned the headlights on, they come on bright, hit the starter button and they dim out...and the solenoid clicks.

Other than that, the car runs great...

bluardun · 11-04-2013, 02:28 PM

Sounds like it's time to have YOUR starter rebuilt.
The "click" is probably the selenoid making up. The dimming of the lights tells us the starter is getting voltage to it, but is stuck, and won't turn.
With time the end bearings wear. This allows the armerture to drag, and even short to ground.
Have fun.

2935ford · 11-04-2013, 02:47 PM

Do you have a flat spot on the ring gear? Teeth missing and the bendix will hang there or the Benix is still engaged.

roadster36 · 11-04-2013, 02:50 PM

Get out your big hammer, crawl under the car and give the starter a few good hits. It sounds like you need a new or rebuilt unit. Good luck- Dennis

34fivewindow · 11-04-2013, 03:04 PM

Have the battery load tested, try to jump start it, or try another battery. This same exact thing just happen too me, only i wasn't as lucky, as you, i was at a gas pump. My problem , was the battery, just gave up.

FlatheadTed · 11-04-2013, 03:58 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Clean your battery connections ,Jump start it direct to the starter Hot connection with 12 volt

BILL WZOREK · 11-04-2013, 04:03 PM

Starter may be stuck, Try putting it in high gear and push it backwards.

This may sound stupid but if you do get under car the please remember to block the wheels front & back.

Ask me how I know. STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES

FlatheadTed · 11-04-2013, 04:13 PM

Bill you mean push it forward in high .?

George/Maine · 11-04-2013, 04:28 PM

My guess is the lug on starter is loose, dirty connection, check both endz starter cable.

BILL WZOREK · 11-04-2013, 04:36 PM

Flathead Ted:

I always thought High gear push backwards / So engine spins backwards & kicks stuck starter out.

Now I am curious ????

Tom in TN · 11-04-2013, 04:41 PM

Well, I thumped it pretty good with a ball peen hammer, then I checked battery voltage = 12.6v, then I had SWMBO hit the starter button while I checked the voltage at the starter lug... 4.8v... I'd hate to yank the starter if that's not it... Battery cables look good at the battery- no corrosion at all. I'll check the one on the starter lug tomorrow.

B-O-B · 11-04-2013, 04:52 PM

Save yourself the time & frustration & pull the starter. It is not all that hard. Then replace then bendix.

jimTN · 11-04-2013, 05:08 PM

Two bolts on the starter plus the cable on top. Nothing to it.
get the starter off, put a couple of nuts on the long bolts that hold it together, try jumper cables to the starter and see what happens while you are holding it tight.

1931ford · 11-04-2013, 05:15 PM

measure the resistance of your cable it sound like a problem i had and it was the cable. should be around zero ohms

Tom in SW VA · 11-04-2013, 05:28 PM

Roll the car back and forward with the gear in high and listen for a click before you remove the starter. Just might work.

FlatheadTed · 11-04-2013, 05:31 PM

Bill Normally when the motor starts (clock wise )it flicks and disengages the bendix, so all you are trying to do is replicate that action ,Rocking the car does a similar thing ,He could just loosen the bolts then rock it ,

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WZOREK

Flathead Ted:

I always thought High gear push backwards / So engine spins backwards & kicks stuck starter out.

Now I am curious ????

George/Maine · 11-04-2013, 06:28 PM

If you had a long screw driver and a jumper cable.
place one end on bat Pos and other on screw driver then touch the center lug on starter this is for the fat and lazy.

Brendan · 11-04-2013, 06:38 PM

4.8 volts is no good!

Talkwrench · 11-04-2013, 06:51 PM

I am having that problem , poling I believe its called,when hot it wont start just like a flat battery. Im in Western Australia I ordered a new stater motor from Macs as they where on special Thursday night by Monday it was sitting on my door step! I finished off my rear brakes so tonight I'll fit the starter motor and fingers crossed all will be well..

Tom in TN · 11-05-2013, 05:16 PM

Well, it looks like the dead starter opinions were correct.

I charged a different battery uo to 12.6v and jumpered it direct to the starter lug - bypassed all the cables/wiring and all it did was spark.

Starter coming out tomorrow...

11-04-2013, 02:09 PM	#1
Tom in TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 258	'34 won't start Hey ya'll, just need to bounce this off you and get a few suggestions. Car is a '34 with a '36 engine and a 12v elec system...been using the 6v starter for more than 10 years. Probably have 6k on the motor. Car ran fine when I drove it to our clubhouse yesterday afternoon, cranked and came back home ok. parked in front of the garge door to raise it and it would not recrank. (had to push it into the garage) STATUS: I press the starter button and get the solenoid to click. That's it. Battery voltage is 12.7v. Hooked a charger to the battery, pumped 225amps into it and still only get the click. Turned the headlights on, they come on bright, hit the starter button and they dim out...and the solenoid clicks. Other than that, the car runs great...

11-04-2013, 02:28 PM	#2
bluardun Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tucson, Az. Posts: 322	Re: '34 won't start Sounds like it's time to have YOUR starter rebuilt. The "click" is probably the selenoid making up. The dimming of the lights tells us the starter is getting voltage to it, but is stuck, and won't turn. With time the end bearings wear. This allows the armerture to drag, and even short to ground. Have fun.

11-04-2013, 02:47 PM	#3
2935ford Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 1,013	Re: '34 won't start Do you have a flat spot on the ring gear? Teeth missing and the bendix will hang there or the Benix is still engaged.

11-04-2013, 02:50 PM	#4
roadster36 BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sonoma,Calif. Posts: 877	Re: '34 won't start Get out your big hammer, crawl under the car and give the starter a few good hits. It sounds like you need a new or rebuilt unit. Good luck- Dennis

11-04-2013, 03:04 PM	#5
34fivewindow Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Santa Rosa, Calif. Posts: 376	Re: '34 won't start Have the battery load tested, try to jump start it, or try another battery. This same exact thing just happen too me, only i wasn't as lucky, as you, i was at a gas pump. My problem , was the battery, just gave up.

11-04-2013, 03:58 PM	#6
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,708	Re: '34 won't start Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Clean your battery connections ,Jump start it direct to the starter Hot connection with 12 volt __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

11-04-2013, 04:03 PM	#7
BILL WZOREK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florence Ma. Posts: 2,404	Re: '34 won't start Starter may be stuck, Try putting it in high gear and push it backwards. This may sound stupid but if you do get under car the please remember to block the wheels front & back. Ask me how I know. STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES

11-04-2013, 04:13 PM	#8
FlatheadTed Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auckland Posts: 4,708	Re: '34 won't start Bill you mean push it forward in high .? __________________ http://www.flatheadted.com Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

11-04-2013, 04:28 PM	#9
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: '34 won't start My guess is the lug on starter is loose, dirty connection, check both endz starter cable.

11-04-2013, 04:36 PM	#10
BILL WZOREK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florence Ma. Posts: 2,404	Re: '34 won't start Flathead Ted: I always thought High gear push backwards / So engine spins backwards & kicks stuck starter out. Now I am curious ????

11-04-2013, 04:41 PM	#11
Tom in TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 258	Re: '34 won't start Well, I thumped it pretty good with a ball peen hammer, then I checked battery voltage = 12.6v, then I had SWMBO hit the starter button while I checked the voltage at the starter lug... 4.8v... I'd hate to yank the starter if that's not it... Battery cables look good at the battery- no corrosion at all. I'll check the one on the starter lug tomorrow.

11-04-2013, 04:52 PM	#12
B-O-B Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ft Mohave,Az Posts: 1,988	Re: '34 won't start Save yourself the time & frustration & pull the starter. It is not all that hard. Then replace then bendix.

11-04-2013, 05:08 PM	#13
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,511	Re: '34 won't start Two bolts on the starter plus the cable on top. Nothing to it. get the starter off, put a couple of nuts on the long bolts that hold it together, try jumper cables to the starter and see what happens while you are holding it tight.

11-04-2013, 05:15 PM	#14
1931ford Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: gap pa Posts: 7	Re: '34 won't start measure the resistance of your cable it sound like a problem i had and it was the cable. should be around zero ohms

11-04-2013, 05:28 PM	#15
Tom in SW VA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richlands, VA Posts: 533	Re: '34 won't start Roll the car back and forward with the gear in high and listen for a click before you remove the starter. Just might work.

11-04-2013, 06:28 PM	#17
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: '34 won't start If you had a long screw driver and a jumper cable. place one end on bat Pos and other on screw driver then touch the center lug on starter this is for the fat and lazy.

11-04-2013, 06:38 PM	#18
Brendan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: At my kitchen table in Santa Rosa, Ca Posts: 2,904	Re: '34 won't start 4.8 volts is no good! __________________ If it would have been a snake it would have bit ya! i can't spell my way out of a paper bag!

11-04-2013, 06:51 PM	#19
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,687	Re: '34 won't start I am having that problem , poling I believe its called,when hot it wont start just like a flat battery. Im in Western Australia I ordered a new stater motor from Macs as they where on special Thursday night by Monday it was sitting on my door step! I finished off my rear brakes so tonight I'll fit the starter motor and fingers crossed all will be well.. __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

11-05-2013, 05:16 PM	#20
Tom in TN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 258	Re: '34 won't start Well, it looks like the dead starter opinions were correct. I charged a different battery uo to 12.6v and jumpered it direct to the starter lug - bypassed all the cables/wiring and all it did was spark. Starter coming out tomorrow...