The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Trouble shooting my floor starter 1952 1/2 ton 3100 Series

Just had the floor starter fail to engage for the second time in two weeks. Your suggestion how to trouble shoot would be welcome.

Well, you see how it works I assume. You will need to describe what "fail to engage means"? We don't know if the starter spins and motor does not or starter does not spin and so on. Be very specific.
There is a mechanical component and an electrical component. The mechanical is simple to check. Does the "plunger switch" get depressed or not. Is the linkage so loose it slips off the plunger head or does not fully press down? or hangs up somehow now and then?

The electrical has many more areas that could fail.
1. The battery
2. The battery connections/cables at battery/at starter
3. The coil connections/wiring
4. The side terminal and it's connections/wiring
5. The plunger switch mounted on starter (large push button assy)
6. The ignition switch and it's connections/wiring
7. The starter and/or it's drive
8. The flywheel
9. The copper slug on starter that contacts the plunger switch
10. Any and all associated ground paths

This list will be narrowed by your detailed explanation and observations. "All the better to serve you with my dear" said the wolf.

BTW: Is "second time in two weeks" the only two times you tried or 2 out of a 20? When it fails, does the next try work or many tries don't work? This is how you trouble shoot. Analyze and use deduction and know how the system works. Try not to over look anything. In general: Categorize electrical, mechanical, fuel, compression, and all that, to see what "system" it might be. We are glad to help but remember we can't see, hear, feel or test it from our house. We need you. You will figure it out. We are just holding the light.

Get a paint stirring stick and break off a couple inch piece and then the next time it doesn't engage, balance the stick on top of the switch on the starter (round button). If the spacer shim cures the problem it's likely worn linkage and if not it's most likely the starter switch. We used to use a book of matches, folded cardboard, and once my billfold (it was always skinny back then) for an emergency start situation.

Thank You for such a detailed reply. I will report back how the process goes. Enjoy your Fathers Day!

You are my style of mechanic. Paint stick is in hand. Thanks

If the paint stick solves the problem, you could do a temporary fix by:

- cutting a small length of water hose
- slice the hose open
- place the sliced hose over the "button" on the starter switch

New starter switched are relatively cheap and readily available and easy to install on the starter.

If the copper contact on the starter is worn down, the above temporary fix will also work, but eventually the starter will have to be rebuilt/replaced.

The big copper contact on the starter is available and easy to replace. If it's the one I've replaced: the squar'ish shaped head with a stud.

I had my starter fail me on a road trip at a gas station. I pulled the cap off an oil bottle and fitted it over the starter button. Worked like a charme and its still there today after two plus years.

that's a good/simple "temporary" solution, twotone

Yep, that was suppossed to be a "temporary" solution just to get me home, but it works so good I forget it's there.