Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
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| | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 | Fired up my ‘51 3100 12v conversion with a ‘55 235 in it today in -5 weather. Starter I assume is 6v. Cold made it slow but eventually started. Drove to coffee 5 miles away. About an hour later tried to start it but nothing. Not even the clicking starter of a dead battery ( it was fine). Pushed the truck down the road with help and popped the clutch and got home. Before I dig into it, what could be the most common causes? I’m guessing bad switch, solenoid, or starter. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,742 | Dirty battery cable connections would be my first check. No, "They look good" is not the right answer. Remove both battery cables, shine up the battery posts with a wire brush, and scrape the inside of the cable clamps clean with a pocketknife. There's also a specific tool for cleaning battery connections that combines a male and female brush into one tool at virtually every auto parts store.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,436 Moderator - The Electrical Bay | | Moderator - The Electrical Bay Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,436 | My "go to" for most electrical issues is "check and clean your grounds".
Another quality post.
Real Trucks Rattle
HELP! The Paranoids are after me!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 | So looked at the starter switch. A bit dirty so shined it up. Then opened up the starter. Very dirty. Cleaned it but noticed something. The pivot for the brushes ( 4 of them) on 2 of them seems to have a small weld that prevents it from contacting the commutator. Seems frozen so they don’t spring close. Is that stock? Two of them work fine- springs work to hold it in place. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | They should all have pressure on the commutator.
George
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 | So looked at the two brush pivots. Someone soldered the fixed open. Heated the pivot with a solder iron and they loosened. All four now contact the commutator. Put the starter back in and it starts strongly now. I guess a lot of cleaning and troubleshooting really works. Thanks for the ideas. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 | Ive asked several mechanic friends why two of the four brush bracket pivots would be soldered open. Any ideas? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,660 Curmudgeon | | Curmudgeon Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,660 | Just an idea and I don't know if this is your situation.
If the brushes are severely worn down, the starter is designed to prevent the holders from making contact with the armature and causing serious damage.
When a starter stops working from worn brushes it's maintenance time.
Burnish the armature, do some cleaning, check/lube bushings, replace contacts and replace the brushes.
Last edited by buoymaker; 03/05/2022 4:47 PM.
"Adding CFM to a truck will only help at engine speeds you don't want to use."
"I found there was nothing to gain beyond 400 CFM."
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2018 Posts: 139 | Cleaned armature, lubed, cleaned contacts. Brushes had plenty to life left. It now runs great. A mystery. Only thing I can think of is the PO was planing on converting to 12v and this starter is 6v so maybe he though only 2 of the 4 brushes would reduce voltage (??) so he soldered the two negative brush’s pivots so they wouldn’t contact the commutator. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 898 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 898 | I wonder how it started when you went for coffee, with two negative brushes soldered?
Brian
1955.2 3100 Truck
The older I get the more dangerous I am!!!!! | | |
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