The Ford Barn

jetrod · 12-11-2021, 06:17 PM

Barners; My 51-F1 EAB/ 6 volt starter spins fast and starts fast when cold, after running for 10-15 miles won't spin fast enough to start, let it set for an hour and it's fine again. What is going on here???? Jerry

petehoovie · 12-11-2021, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jetrod

Barners; My 51-F1 EAB/ 6 volt starter spins fast and starts fast when cold, after running for 10-15 miles won't spin fast enough to start, let it set for an hour and it's fine again. What is going on here???? Jerry

Possibly caused by poor connections at the battery and ground connections. Thoroughly clean up all connections involved in the starter circuit. When this happens, check the battery cables for heat....

jetrod · 12-12-2021, 11:06 AM

all connections are good--over size cables. It seems like the starter doesn't have as much torque when warm. ??? Jerry

marko39 · 12-12-2021, 11:47 AM

Warm engine is also tighter than cold but a good starter ( and cables) should be up to it.

Eagle43 · 12-12-2021, 11:06 PM

Bad armature? Check for a heavy current draw.

rotorwrench · 12-13-2021, 11:21 AM

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A person might check the distributor to make sure the spark is going all the way back to retard the spark for starting. If the springs are bad or the plate is stuck at full advance then it might make it hard to start.

On a starter that is abnormally slow due to heat build up then it may have a bushing problem or an armature that has an open wire that opens further when it gets hot. It would take a growler and an ohm meter to find stuff like that but it may have to be warmed up to perform a test. I'd look for obvious signs of damage first and go from there. Turn the head lights on and see if the lights dim out during a difficult start. If they come back bright after the attempt then it could have a starter or a conductor cable problem. If the lights stay dim then I'd start checking the battery. Check grounds as well as feed conductors. The electrical pathway has to be good and clear for optimal starter function.

1948F-1Pickup · 12-13-2021, 02:10 PM

^ I agree on that stater commentary.

What shape is the coil in? I'm wondering if the spark you get when cold is the same as the spark you get when things are warm. (yes I'm aware the complaint is slow-cranking when warm.....)

tubman · 12-13-2021, 02:24 PM

I'd also look at the starter. I had an "iffy" one in my '51 for years. It always started the car, but I was never confidant it was 100%. Last summer, I decided to change it out for a spare I had. The new starter solved all of the problems. I found that the original had a cold solder joint where one set of brushes were connected to the case.

12-11-2021, 06:17 PM	#1
jetrod Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central NC Posts: 68	1952 F1 starting problem Barners; My 51-F1 EAB/ 6 volt starter spins fast and starts fast when cold, after running for 10-15 miles won't spin fast enough to start, let it set for an hour and it's fine again. What is going on here???? Jerry

12-12-2021, 11:06 AM	#3
jetrod Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Central NC Posts: 68	Re: 1952 F1 starting problem all connections are good--over size cables. It seems like the starter doesn't have as much torque when warm. ??? Jerry

12-12-2021, 11:47 AM	#4
marko39 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: harpursville ny Posts: 1,040	Re: 1952 F1 starting problem Warm engine is also tighter than cold but a good starter ( and cables) should be up to it.

12-12-2021, 11:06 PM	#5
Eagle43 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 167	Re: 1952 F1 starting problem Bad armature? Check for a heavy current draw.

12-13-2021, 11:21 AM	#6
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: 1952 F1 starting problem Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) A person might check the distributor to make sure the spark is going all the way back to retard the spark for starting. If the springs are bad or the plate is stuck at full advance then it might make it hard to start. On a starter that is abnormally slow due to heat build up then it may have a bushing problem or an armature that has an open wire that opens further when it gets hot. It would take a growler and an ohm meter to find stuff like that but it may have to be warmed up to perform a test. I'd look for obvious signs of damage first and go from there. Turn the head lights on and see if the lights dim out during a difficult start. If they come back bright after the attempt then it could have a starter or a conductor cable problem. If the lights stay dim then I'd start checking the battery. Check grounds as well as feed conductors. The electrical pathway has to be good and clear for optimal starter function.

12-13-2021, 02:10 PM	#7
1948F-1Pickup Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Socal Posts: 795	Re: 1952 F1 starting problem ^ I agree on that stater commentary. What shape is the coil in? I'm wondering if the spark you get when cold is the same as the spark you get when things are warm. (yes I'm aware the complaint is slow-cranking when warm.....) Last edited by 1948F-1Pickup; 12-13-2021 at 02:15 PM.

12-13-2021, 02:24 PM	#8
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,320	Re: 1952 F1 starting problem I'd also look at the starter. I had an "iffy" one in my '51 for years. It always started the car, but I was never confidant it was 100%. Last summer, I decided to change it out for a spare I had. The new starter solved all of the problems. I found that the original had a cold solder joint where one set of brushes were connected to the case.