The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk jump starting a '52 AD

so

for reasons that aren't important at the moment, my truck is sitting in a parking lot under a time constraint (metered, yay) and it won't start. i'm assuming dead battery.

other than being converted to 12 volts the truck is stock.

do i have a positive ground? does it matter if you jump directly to the battery (not using chassis as ground)?

will having a AAA tow truck jump it like any other 12v vehicle create abnormal risk?

this probably should be in electrical i know, but general gets more views i think

If you jump directly to the Battery it shouldn't matter. just go + to + and - to -

why don't you try push starting it? you get some forward or reverse motion going, put it in gear and POP the clutch but first turn the KEY on. if your truck still has the original wiring you should have a negative ground and if your battery is still under the passengers floor, you can connect your battery cable to the starter terminal(+) by rasing your hood and looking on the passenger side of the engine(your left side looking into the engine bay) and the ground to a good metal ground.

tony'n wea

thanks guys

can't push start it cuz it has an alternator, needs power to make power, and it's pretty dead.

i don't know the state of the wiring harness, PO did the conversion

Hope you got it going.
Steve

For safety reasons hook the positive cable up first then use frame or engine ground(avoids sparks around the battery )dont know if youve ever seen one explode but it aint pretty and is DANGEROUS to you/your truck and anyone who happens to be standing near by

12 volt - negative ground

Chevrolet - negative ground


GMC (6 volt)- positive ground 193? -1955?

Push starting should be an option, even with a dead battery as long as it is not totally depleted.

Good excuse to get yourself one of those portable battery jump starters. I like the one with the built in air pump. These are about $65 at costco. When you need one. Priceless

Good luck!

just put a new battery in it and drive it away

Those portable jump starters are one of the greatest inventions of all time.

do they make those portable jump starters for my 6v 53 gmc system?

they don't make them for specific vehicles.
every one I seen are 12 volt

if it helps ya, i use mine on 6v stuff...
hasn't hurt either the jump box or the truck.
spins 'em over fast, though;)

thanks tomslik. i'd thought about doing that but didn't want to blow up my gauges and assorted 6v equipment.
tony

You can jump it with 12 volts. Just hook it up & start it immediatly & unhook it as soon as it starts.