The Ford Barn

Smooth_One · 01-31-2017, 10:15 AM

I was given an 8 volt battery by my local starter/genarator repair shop because my starter is hanging up sometimes on my A.
He said they hang up a lot of times because of lack of power so he said try the 8 volt battery and let him know. What do you guys know about this?
My car is still running the stock 6 V system with the cut out switch on the generator.
Thanks.

René W · 01-31-2017, 10:34 AM

My car is running on 6 volt and the starter is never hanging up,must be a problem with the startermotor,not the battery

Dick So. Cal. · 01-31-2017, 10:37 AM

Sounds like a bad ground to me. How 'bout too small gage battery cables?
Just thinking out loud. . . . .

Dick

Smooth_One · 01-31-2017, 10:41 AM

All the cables are original size but I have never had my engine loose to clean the grounds or anything like that so that might be the case. Both the ground strap to the negative side of the battery and the cable from the starter to the positive side of the battery are new and the complete harness from the starter to the generator are new as well. All factory looking and sized wires.
I was just wondering if any of you guys run an 8 V battery on your car to give it just a little bit more power?

Mitch//pa · 01-31-2017, 10:49 AM

When you say it hangs up?
Does it stick in the flywheel and not return or are you having a slow or no crank issue.
More info needed

Smooth_One · 01-31-2017, 10:51 AM

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When I first initially hit the starter button it just locks everything up and I have to unbolt the starter and pry it off the engine block to get it to break free.

George Miller · 01-31-2017, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth_One

When I first initially hit the starter button it just locks everything up and I have to unbolt the starter and pry it off the engine block to get it to break free.

8 volts will not help that problem. Many years ago in my Dad's garage we use to work on tractors. Some of the people had put 8 volt batters in to try and fix the real problem. They are more problems with a 8 volt than fixing the real problem. Could be a bent starter shaft, bad starter drive, bad flywheel ring gear.

BILL WILLIAMSON · 01-31-2017, 11:35 AM

Using an 8 Volt battery is like using a higher volt battery in your CLOCK--LOL
Bill W.

CarlG · 01-31-2017, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth_One

... Both the ground strap to the negative side of the battery and the cable from the starter to the positive side of the battery ...

If you have it hooked up this way, you have reversed the polarity. Should be ground strap on the + side, starter on the - side.

Probably has nothing at all to do with the starter hanging up, however.

Jim Brierley · 01-31-2017, 11:55 AM

Your stock generator will fail quickly with 8v. I would not use it.

Mitch//pa · 01-31-2017, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Miller

8 volts will not help that problem. Many years ago in my Dad garage we use to work on tractors. Some of them people had put 8 volt batters in to try and fix the real problem. They are more problems with a 8 volt than fixing the real problem. Could be a bent starter shaft, bad starter drive, bad flywheel ring gear.

What George said...

3.6rs · 01-31-2017, 12:35 PM

I didn't know the existance of 8v batteries.

Kurt in NJ · 01-31-2017, 12:37 PM

My starter has not jammed since replacing the ring gear, 2worn spots on the old gear

jthomas6 · 01-31-2017, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smooth_One

I was just wondering if any of you guys run an 8 V battery on your car to give it just a little bit more power?

When I obtained my first 'A', I didn't realize the previous owner had installed an 8v battery. I went through two generators, and many light bulbs - before I thought to check the battery (I assumed it was 6v).

I replaced with a proper 6v battery - never had another electrical related problem for the next 3 years I owned the roadster.

AL in NY · 01-31-2017, 12:52 PM

Like others, I also suspect a ground problem. Try running a heavy gauge wire from the battery frame connection to one of the bell housing bolts near the starter. My starter would hang up occasionally until I did this. 40 year old riveted frame joints could offer a couple ohms of resistance and that is all it takes.

Tom Wesenberg · 01-31-2017, 01:54 PM

If you want to be able to run faster, you double the voltage of your pacemaker.

Do as George said, fix the real problem. BTW, usually a jammed starter drive can be freed up by putting the car in high gear and rocking it back and forth. The forward motion should spin the drive rearward, back out of engagement.

The best use for an 8 volt battery is to send me 4 of them, so I have 32 volts for my 32 volt Delco Light Plant.

Mike V. Florida · 01-31-2017, 02:23 PM

They work and have worked for years, as a bandaid for other problems. If the shop is actually saying that on the bench the starter hangs and needs 8 volts to work, in my opinion find another shop.

Tom Wesenberg · 01-31-2017, 02:30 PM

Yes, like Mike said, I was really surprised that any shop would suggest such a thing rather than fixing the real problem.
As mentioned, check the teeth of the pinion, and ring gear, and check the armature shaft to be sure it isn't bent.

Charlie Stephens · 01-31-2017, 02:37 PM

Ask around (maybe a local club) and find a shop that knows how to work on 6 volt cars. Fix the problem, don't just cover it up and cause other problems.

Charlie Stephens

Farrell In Vancouver · 01-31-2017, 02:56 PM

Must agree with said here as we experienced the same issues with an 8 volt in a 30' P/U.
8 volt has been used in marine applications and six volt bulbs/generators do not like them. Until we replaced and cleaned the starter wiring, and installed a new 6 Volt, we had more problems than just a slow starter. Check to see the face of the starter and the starter mount are clean and paint/rust free as well.
Good luck!

01-31-2017, 10:15 AM	#1
Smooth_One Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: St Clair, Michigan Posts: 395	8 Volt battery I was given an 8 volt battery by my local starter/genarator repair shop because my starter is hanging up sometimes on my A. He said they hang up a lot of times because of lack of power so he said try the 8 volt battery and let him know. What do you guys know about this? My car is still running the stock 6 V system with the cut out switch on the generator. Thanks. __________________ Isaiah B. 1928 all metal Tudor

01-31-2017, 10:34 AM	#2
René W Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Amsterdam Netherlands Posts: 179	Re: 8 Volt battery My car is running on 6 volt and the starter is never hanging up,must be a problem with the startermotor,not the battery __________________ It is a pile of shit bit it's my pile of shit

01-31-2017, 10:37 AM	#3
Dick So. Cal. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: El Segundo CA Posts: 181	Re: 8 Volt battery Sounds like a bad ground to me. How 'bout too small gage battery cables? Just thinking out loud. . . . . Dick

01-31-2017, 10:41 AM	#4
Smooth_One Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: St Clair, Michigan Posts: 395	Re: 8 Volt battery All the cables are original size but I have never had my engine loose to clean the grounds or anything like that so that might be the case. Both the ground strap to the negative side of the battery and the cable from the starter to the positive side of the battery are new and the complete harness from the starter to the generator are new as well. All factory looking and sized wires. I was just wondering if any of you guys run an 8 V battery on your car to give it just a little bit more power? __________________ Isaiah B. 1928 all metal Tudor

01-31-2017, 10:49 AM	#5
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: 8 Volt battery When you say it hangs up? Does it stick in the flywheel and not return or are you having a slow or no crank issue. More info needed

01-31-2017, 10:51 AM	#6
Smooth_One Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: St Clair, Michigan Posts: 395	Re: 8 Volt battery Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) When I first initially hit the starter button it just locks everything up and I have to unbolt the starter and pry it off the engine block to get it to break free. __________________ Isaiah B. 1928 all metal Tudor

01-31-2017, 11:35 AM	#8
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: 8 Volt battery Using an 8 Volt battery is like using a higher volt battery in your CLOCK--LOL Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

01-31-2017, 11:55 AM	#10
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,088	Re: 8 Volt battery Your stock generator will fail quickly with 8v. I would not use it.

01-31-2017, 12:35 PM	#12
3.6rs Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Belgistan (formerly known as Belgium) Posts: 573	Re: 8 Volt battery I didn't know the existance of 8v batteries.

01-31-2017, 12:37 PM	#13
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,159	Re: 8 Volt battery My starter has not jammed since replacing the ring gear, 2worn spots on the old gear

01-31-2017, 12:52 PM	#15
AL in NY Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Upstate New York Posts: 1,160	Re: 8 Volt battery Like others, I also suspect a ground problem. Try running a heavy gauge wire from the battery frame connection to one of the bell housing bolts near the starter. My starter would hang up occasionally until I did this. 40 year old riveted frame joints could offer a couple ohms of resistance and that is all it takes. __________________ AL in NY

01-31-2017, 01:54 PM	#16
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: 8 Volt battery If you want to be able to run faster, you double the voltage of your pacemaker. Do as George said, fix the real problem. BTW, usually a jammed starter drive can be freed up by putting the car in high gear and rocking it back and forth. The forward motion should spin the drive rearward, back out of engagement. The best use for an 8 volt battery is to send me 4 of them, so I have 32 volts for my 32 volt Delco Light Plant.

01-31-2017, 02:23 PM	#17
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: 8 Volt battery They work and have worked for years, as a bandaid for other problems. If the shop is actually saying that on the bench the starter hangs and needs 8 volts to work, in my opinion find another shop. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

01-31-2017, 02:30 PM	#18
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: 8 Volt battery Yes, like Mike said, I was really surprised that any shop would suggest such a thing rather than fixing the real problem. As mentioned, check the teeth of the pinion, and ring gear, and check the armature shaft to be sure it isn't bent.

01-31-2017, 02:37 PM	#19
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,032	Re: 8 Volt battery Ask around (maybe a local club) and find a shop that knows how to work on 6 volt cars. Fix the problem, don't just cover it up and cause other problems. Charlie Stephens Last edited by Charlie Stephens; 01-31-2017 at 04:07 PM.

01-31-2017, 02:56 PM	#20
Farrell In Vancouver Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pitt Meadows BC Posts: 1,003	Re: 8 Volt battery Must agree with said here as we experienced the same issues with an 8 volt in a 30' P/U. 8 volt has been used in marine applications and six volt bulbs/generators do not like them. Until we replaced and cleaned the starter wiring, and installed a new 6 Volt, we had more problems than just a slow starter. Check to see the face of the starter and the starter mount are clean and paint/rust free as well. Good luck!