The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Starter without solenoid

My truck is a 53 chevy 3600 3/4 ton. With a 54 235ci motor in it. The Starter is a 6 volt but it doesn't have a solenoid attached to it or wired to it. OK Dumb question, Is it supposed to have one? Or not.

A solenoid engages the starter drive gear electrically, using a large magnetic coil and a lever linkage. The stovebolt starter and a lot of others for industrial engines, tractors, etc, use mechanical linkage to engage the gear in the flywheel, then the push button switch starts the motor turning to crank the engine.

No, stovebolt engines do not have a solenoid- - - -the driver's foot serves the same purpose.
Jerry

Jerry, I'm learning all of this as I go. And I appreciate your time to answer my un knowledgeable questions. And I'm sure I'll have more for you guy's as I go. Thank You!

If your starter doesn't have the component on top for the foot linkage to enage with, then maybe somebody replaced it with one that doesn't have it and either put a 3 position ignition switch (off/on/start) in your truck (replacing the original switch) or kept the original switch and put a push button in between the switch and starter? When I bought my 59 a later starter without that part was put in and a puch button was put under the dash to engage the stater that way. I hope that made sense.

Steve,

As posted about, your truck came from the factory with a foot-actuated starter.

However, some "stove bolt" 6-cylinder, 6-volt truck engines did come from the factory with a standard solenoid starter (non foot-start): delivery van type trucks (starting around 1948, I think) and standard-bed/body hydra-matic equipped trucks (starting in 1953/GMC & 1954/Chevrolet - it only fits the Hydra-Matic flywheel cover/housing).

Steve.....the 235 you have may have come out of a car and if I am correct 1954 cars didn't have foot starters. Get the engine casting number and S/N and check it against it's application. If you need help doing that, post the numbers in here and somebody can decipher it for you.

Cablesmill, I have a foot starter in the truck.I have the linkage that goes from the foot starter to the push button on the starter. I understand what is going on now after Jerry pointed it out to me. I get it!! LOL It's all good guy's. I should have looked up what a solenoid did before I made a fool of myself posting on the sight. Feeling a little dumb now.

Getting a better understanding of how things work is never dumb. I spent 30-something years trying to teach a bunch of social misfit high school kids to earn an honest living, and at least a few of them learned the lesson well- - - -now they run their own shops and make a contribution to society instead of being a bunch of parasites.

Sharing the knowledge I gleaned from listening to mechanics from the 1920's 30's and 40's who worked for Dad is my way of paying things forward. Glad I was able to help!
Jerry

Dad's radio operator on his B-17 said he could understand how the props could pull the plane through the air- - - - -what he was having trouble understanding was how they hooked up the engines to the wheels so it could taxi!
LOL!
Jerry

Thanks Jerry!!!!!!!!!

Excellent Steve!! I don't think you made a fool of yourself at all. We all go thru some sort of a learning process.

As a former Helicopter Powertrain instructor, I remember telling my students no question is a dumb one. Admittingly, I did chuckle at how some were asked. After I settled down and considered that most of the folks had never been up close and personal with a helicopter, they got their answer. So, keep asking questions, somebody is gonna have your answer.

Laffinnnnnn....That's hilarious Jerry! That should be sent to Readers Digest for the "Humor in Uniform" section.

Hey guys can anyone tell where I can buy a replacement button ( on the top of the starter) as mine is seized and is unable to make contact when you press on the pedal in the Cab. I have removed it and attempted to free it up but all to no result so far. By the way I am in Australia so any info would and web sites would be greatly appreciated. Also the proper name of the component would help too
Cheers
Mick

Mick, welcome. It is always best to start a new thread when changing subjects. You should identify what vehicle you are asking about, i.e.; make, year, model, motor, etc. we are here to help you but you have to do your part and help us. The part you are referring to (starter solenoid) is available as a complete part through the usual venders, LMC, Jim Carter, Rockauto.com, Brothers and most of the rest. Good luck with your project.🛠

I think he is talking about the brass contractor the stomp switches current to, connected to the electrical guts of the starter, haven't seen them listed separately? Should be easy to make.

Ed