The Ford Barn

fords · 09-08-2015, 06:44 AM

Hello, been a while since on the forum. Fall and time to get cars up and running. What is best way to trouble shoot ignition and starter. I'm looking for the " Remove this before that and don't have to remove that to get to this" experience.
Battery is good, starter will not engage.
Thanks Guys

Brian SATX · 09-08-2015, 06:53 AM

Are you getting fire at the points? Then switch is good.

Try rocking it in 3 gear, switch OFF. Listen for a pop.

Remove starter, bench test it.

Mitch//pa · 09-08-2015, 06:57 AM

first check the battery to make sure its fully charged and that the water level is above the plates in each cell.. the starter is a direct feed from the battery cables . make sure your cable connections are clean on all 4 ends especially the frame connection. see if you can turn the engine by hand in neutral , this will indicate that the drive is not stuck in the ring gear teeth. if you cant turn the engine by hand try rocking the car in gear to free the starter drive. after all that check the starter switch itself thats mounted on the starter or the starter for an issue..
if you have a main battery kill switch make sure thats good also"""""""
you can use a volt meter to ck for the proper volts at al connections

Terry, NJ · 09-08-2015, 07:11 AM

I recently went through this too. It turned out to be a spring on the starter drive. I replaced and it's fine. The spring is on the front of the starter so it has to be removed from the engine. I'm told that this is sort of a "Chronic" problem with these old Fords.
Another thing, If the battery is going down you may have a problem with your starter switch on the dash if it's the "pop out" type. When the switch is pushed in, it shorts. To verify, look at your ampmeter before and after. If it show a discharge when the switch is off, and you can make the needle wobble with the key, you probably have a bad switch.
Terry

Tom Wesenberg · 09-08-2015, 09:50 PM

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Since you said the starter is good, I assume that means you hear it spinning but not engaging the flywheel. If that's the case you need to remove the starter and make sure the Bendix is free of grease and rust and will easily spin back and forth on the helix. On the weight of the pinion is a tiny pin and spring which is often stuck and need to be freed up and have a drop of oil applied.

Also make sure the drive bolts and lock washers are in good condition. The tab on the lock washer must be bent tight to the flat of the bolt head. If it isn't then some day it may come loose and fall into the housing.

09-08-2015, 06:44 AM	#1
fords Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Melbourne, Fl Posts: 62	1930 Ignition switch or starter Hello, been a while since on the forum. Fall and time to get cars up and running. What is best way to trouble shoot ignition and starter. I'm looking for the " Remove this before that and don't have to remove that to get to this" experience. Battery is good, starter will not engage. Thanks Guys

09-08-2015, 06:53 AM	#2
Brian SATX Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 821	Re: 1930 Ignition switch or starter Are you getting fire at the points? Then switch is good. Try rocking it in 3 gear, switch OFF. Listen for a pop. Remove starter, bench test it. __________________ Brian SATX

09-08-2015, 06:57 AM	#3
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: 1930 Ignition switch or starter first check the battery to make sure its fully charged and that the water level is above the plates in each cell.. the starter is a direct feed from the battery cables . make sure your cable connections are clean on all 4 ends especially the frame connection. see if you can turn the engine by hand in neutral , this will indicate that the drive is not stuck in the ring gear teeth. if you cant turn the engine by hand try rocking the car in gear to free the starter drive. after all that check the starter switch itself thats mounted on the starter or the starter for an issue.. if you have a main battery kill switch make sure thats good also""""""" you can use a volt meter to ck for the proper volts at al connections Last edited by Mitch//pa; 09-08-2015 at 07:03 AM.

09-08-2015, 07:11 AM	#4
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: 1930 Ignition switch or starter I recently went through this too. It turned out to be a spring on the starter drive. I replaced and it's fine. The spring is on the front of the starter so it has to be removed from the engine. I'm told that this is sort of a "Chronic" problem with these old Fords. Another thing, If the battery is going down you may have a problem with your starter switch on the dash if it's the "pop out" type. When the switch is pushed in, it shorts. To verify, look at your ampmeter before and after. If it show a discharge when the switch is off, and you can make the needle wobble with the key, you probably have a bad switch. Terry

09-08-2015, 09:50 PM	#5
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: 1930 Ignition switch or starter Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Since you said the starter is good, I assume that means you hear it spinning but not engaging the flywheel. If that's the case you need to remove the starter and make sure the Bendix is free of grease and rust and will easily spin back and forth on the helix. On the weight of the pinion is a tiny pin and spring which is often stuck and need to be freed up and have a drop of oil applied. Also make sure the drive bolts and lock washers are in good condition. The tab on the lock washer must be bent tight to the flat of the bolt head. If it isn't then some day it may come loose and fall into the housing.