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| | | | Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 200 nothing beats a try but a failure | | nothing beats a try but a failure Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 200 | I will make this short. I have a new 6 volt battery. My 6 volt starter struggles to turn the engine. My engine is fresh. I installed a 12 volt battery only to start the engine. There is no electric in the truck. Just a 6 volt battery for the coil. Truck runs well. Question, do 6 volt systems struggle to turn the engine? | | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,038 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,038 | Four of my five trucks are 6 volt and all start fine. You say your engine is "fresh" so I assume a recent rebuild. It may be tight and just require breaking in. Another possibility is that your battery cables are too small of gauge or corrosion is present on the connections. The latter is a common problem with 6 volts because the system requires twice the current of a 12 volt.
Kent
Last edited by Lightholder's Dad; 06/17/2025 9:48 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,687 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,687 | No. 6 volt systems will spin over an engine just as fast as any 12v system.
Your problem is most likely found in your wiring and wiring connections.
Your battery cables MUST be 00 gauge - basically welding cable. Your grounds MUST be perfect. Disconnect the ground wire from the the starter to the frame and wire brush the connections. Swap the woven belt for a 00 gauge cable. Make sure the battery is fully charged to ~6.3-6.5 volts
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | Get rid of the braided ground cable from the battery to the cab, and replace it with a piece of welder cable going to the bellhousing. Use a cable the same size from the battery + terminal to the starter switch. A smaller ground cable can be used for cab to frame and frame to engine circuits. The starter is the heaviest current draw on the vehicle, and it needs the biggest conductors. Chevy used short braided grounds for only one reason- - - -it's known as "baby chicken" engineering- - - -"CHEEP- - - -CHEEP- - - -CHEEP!!
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 200 nothing beats a try but a failure | | nothing beats a try but a failure Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 200 | You guys are the greatest. I replaced the ground with OO and the engine spins much better. Thanks Jim | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,687 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,687 | That's great. I always cringe when people tell me their 6v system turns over the engine so slowly that they're converting the whole vehicle to 12v. It's such a waste of time and money if that's the driving force behind the conversion.
Make sure your positive starter cable is 00 also. Too thin gauge will result in the wire getting really hot during startup.
With only half the voltage of a 12v system, the 6v wiring has to be double the size in order to carry the same amperage.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
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