The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Push button start

My '51 GMC 3/4 ton was out of commission for about ten years. Have been working on it this summer, and have it running again. Had carburetor rebuilt, installed new fuel pump, and found a rebuilt generator on eBay and installed. But now it's making off and on contact with the push button start. Today I didn't get any contact. Used a screwdriver to jump the starter and it fired right up. Checked connection on push button and looks good and tight. But losing contact somewhere. New here and have searched, but didn't see anything related. What a great site!!

Rudedog53,

Welcome to stovebolt.com.

There is a copper contact inside the "push button" "starter switch" (that switch is called a a mechanical solenoid).
It makes contact with a copper "button" on top of the starter.

If either/both pieces of copper are worn down, a good contact cannot be made.

It is easy to take the push-button assembly off the starter to inspect the contacts.
Or, first see if a wood/rubber shim placed on top of the push button allows a better connection and allows the starter to crank.

If your truck has been converted to 12v, it might have a mechanical solenoid with a side switch (which is for a lead to bypass a 12v ignition's ballast resistor).

Thanks for your reply Tim. Truck has been converted to 12v. Foot starter disconnected and a push button was installed in opening where a "throttle" cable would have been. Two wires from push button go to starter and solenoid. Can't really trace them as wrapped with other wires. But assume that's where they go. Will pull the contacts and inspect button to make sure it's making contact. Wondering if maybe something with starter or solenoid gone bad like my generator. Bearings seized after startup and driving a couple of times around my neighborhood. So finding new problems as I go. I'm no mechanic but having a blast learning and doing!! This site will be a great help. Thanks again Tim.

Figured this out. It's the actual push button that's gone bad. I disconnected the wires and touched them together and my truck fired right up. So found one online and ordered. Beats having to rebuild the starter or replace wiring!

Glad you found the problem! Did you buy a switch that is rated for use as a starter button? (15A or so... similar to this one?

http://www.delcity.net/store/Starter-&-Horn-Switch/p_793130

Actually replaced with this as it's the same as what's on there now:

https://www.waytekwire.com/item/44005/Pollak-52-600-Push-Button-Momentary-Start-Switch/

It says 10 [email protected] be okay shouldn't it?