Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-25-2021, 08:22 AM   #1
Lefthander1930
Senior Member
 
Lefthander1930's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Roseville Ca.
Posts: 141
Default Starter fuse Question ??

I see that some starters have fuses attach/on them. What is the reason ?
Lefthander1930 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 08:35 AM   #2
Dean Lemoine
Senior Member
 
Dean Lemoine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Dahlonega, Ga
Posts: 251
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

It doesn’t protect the starter. Originally, Model A’s had no fuses. The “starter” fuse you’re talking about should be a 30 Amp fuse protecting the rest of the car.
Dean Lemoine is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 03-25-2021, 09:47 AM   #3
Ivan in southeast va.
Senior Member
 
Ivan in southeast va.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Portsmouth, Virginia
Posts: 303
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

I highly recommend the fuse assembly.
Ivan in southeast va. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 10:07 AM   #4
Lefthander1930
Senior Member
 
Lefthander1930's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Roseville Ca.
Posts: 141
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

I'm guessing one of the fuse will go to the starter, Where to connect the other end ?
Lefthander1930 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 10:14 AM   #5
JayJay
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 1,043
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lefthander1930 View Post
I'm guessing one of the fuse will go to the starter, Where to connect the other end ?
When you buy the kit from the Model A parts houses it comes with hookup instructions. I put one in recently on my pickup, pretty simple but be sure you don't overtighten the mounting screws and strip the starter case. Here's a link to the instructions, courtesy of Brattons.

JayJay
__________________
JayJay
San Francisco Bay Area

------------------------
1930 Murray Town Sedan
1931 Briggs S/W Town Sedan
JayJay is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 10:32 AM   #6
rotorwrench
Senior Member
 
rotorwrench's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 16,367
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Since the battery power side is connected to the starter switch, that designates it as the main power terminal or buss terminal for the whole car. There is a history of early automobiles catching fire due to shorted wiring. Fuses and auto reset circuit breakers didn't start to show up until the V8 era that followed the model A in the 1930s.
rotorwrench is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 10:45 AM   #7
alexiskai
Senior Member
 
alexiskai's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Mebane NC
Posts: 2,329
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Here's mine. The fuse backing mounts on the two starter switch screws on the engine side. The left-side fuse terminal attaches to the terminal on the starter switch (copper nut). Right-side fuse terminal attaches to the wire going to the terminal box.

(The red and yellow wires go to a permanently-attached connector that plugs into a battery tender.)
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_3123.jpg (49.2 KB, 90 views)
alexiskai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 11:44 AM   #8
jrelliott
Senior Member
 
jrelliott's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pine, AZ
Posts: 792
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Highly recommend the fuse. As you know if you let the smoke out, it is hard to put it back. Protects the rest of the electrical wiring in the vehicle if you get a short. If you do not have a new electrical harness, you are asking for trouble. Cheap insurance from a fire in the wiring.
jrelliott is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 12:13 PM   #9
Y-Blockhead
Senior Member
 
Y-Blockhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,817
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by jrelliott View Post
Highly recommend the fuse. As you know if you let the smoke out, it is hard to put it back. Protects the rest of the electrical wiring in the vehicle if you get a short. If you do not have a new electrical harness, you are asking for trouble. Cheap insurance from a fire in the wiring.
We have Model A Replacement Smoke... but the fuse is much cheaper.




Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 03-25-2021 at 12:39 PM.
Y-Blockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 12:51 PM   #10
Charlie Stephens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Southern California
Posts: 7,017
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

I recommended a fuse for my friends Model A. He gave me a "yah I will think about it" response. As we were closing his garage I told him I thought I saw smoke. I finally convinced him I was serious and not just pushing the fuse suggestion. The terminal on the back of the ammeter was contacting the fuel tank and shorting out. Soon thereafter he installed a fuse.

Charlie Stephens
Charlie Stephens is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 12:56 PM   #11
burner31
Senior Member
 
burner31's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Shawnee, Ok
Posts: 3,471
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Put a zip tie on the fuse with the pigtail long enough to grab with your fingers, just a little tip for you.
__________________
Keith
Shawnee OK
'31 SW 160-B
burner31 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 01:02 PM   #12
Y-Blockhead
Senior Member
 
Y-Blockhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,817
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

I use a 30 amp circuit breaker. The rest of my circuits are fused.
Y-Blockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 01:16 PM   #13
Model A Ron
Senior Member
 
Model A Ron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Troutman, NC
Posts: 717
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Get a fuse....it helps keep the smoke in the wires
Model A Ron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 06:17 PM   #14
Chuck Sea/Tac
Senior Member
 
Chuck Sea/Tac's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Between Seattle & Tacoma
Posts: 2,351
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by burner31 View Post
Put a zip tie on the fuse with the pigtail long enough to grab with your fingers, just a little tip for you.
Or have a wooden stick, similar to a popsicle stick, in your door pocket, to pry it out.
Chuck Sea/Tac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2021, 08:06 PM   #15
Stingray70
Senior Member
 
Stingray70's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Western NC
Posts: 211
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

I highly recommend the fuse. Be careful what size fuse you install though. When I bought my car, it had a 30a fuse installed. I had a short in a headlight connector which cooked the headlight harness and plug before the fuse blew. 20a is more appropriate for the wiring in these cars.
__________________
1930 Standard Coupe
Stingray70 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2021, 01:21 AM   #16
PotvinV8
Senior Member
 
PotvinV8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 114
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Stephens View Post
I recommended a fuse for my friends Model A. He gave me a "yah I will think about it" response. As we were closing his garage I told him I thought I saw smoke. I finally convinced him I was serious and not just pushing the fuse suggestion. The terminal on the back of the ammeter was contacting the fuel tank and shorting out. Soon thereafter he installed a fuse.

Charlie Stephens
Same thing happened to me, except it was the modern-style ignition switch shorting against the tank. Big puff of smoke and car died. Blew the fuse and wiped out the wire, but that was an easy, if frustrating fix.

Another fan of installing a fuse to protect the harness with real world experience to boot...
PotvinV8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-26-2021, 09:06 AM   #17
Badpuppy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Guthrie, OK
Posts: 1,140
Default Re: Starter fuse Question ??

Cutout contacts stuck closed will drain the battery through the generator in "short" order. The fuse will prevent this.
Badpuppy is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:00 AM.