The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay starter question

im pretty sure i already know the answer, but i just want to make sure. i feel pretty stupid asking this, but i am 16 years old and am rewiring my truck by hand from scratch by myself, and never done any wiring before. ok, heres the question:
i am correct in thinking that the foot stomp starters DO NOT have a solenoid, right? i know there is not one on the truck but someone i was talking to told me that there had to be one and i didnt believe them

'49gmc,

Welcome to the Stovebolt. I'm certainly not a GMC guru but if your rig has a stomp starter, it has no solenoid. The starter drive is engaged with foot power as opposed to being pulled in by a solenoid...you were right.

Stuart

thanx

There is a switch on top of the starter that the stomp linkage pushes in to provide power to the motor at the same time it engauges the drive.

Now this may be a source of arguement, and I don't mean to git you fellers riled up, but, I suppose you know that God drives an old Chevy truck, and if I'm guessin' right, its a Big Bolt with a masher, or stomper, starter.

There ain't nuthin in this great universe that He done wrong, and the way He's figgered it, the simpler the better--that way, it don't go wrong while folks are tryin' to put it to use.

Now, as far as Chevy trucks go, well, He saw to it that they were made simple. They're strong and tough, and used properly as He intended, they just about last forever.

So, see here, the stomper starter, or as some call it, the masher starter on an old Chevy, I figger, was invented by God Himself.

Take a look at it and you will see what I mean. These old starter motors with the stomper pedal in the cab and the linkage to make it all work last a heck of a long time, day after day, stomp after stomp, and just keep right on crankin' yer old Chevy for ya.

Solenoids? What solenoids? We don't need no stinkin' solenoids!

A solenoid is just one more of them danged electrical contraptions filled with smoke and stench that will take a powder on ya when you really don't need it to, and there you'll set.

Now, someplace in these pages, there has been discussion about changin' out from a masher starter to one operated with one of them danged solenoids.

Ever time I see somethin' like that, I git a big itch in the middle of my forehead. Now, I'm tellin ya, but you can do however you please, that if you chuck yer stomper sarter and put in a solenoid driven crank motor, don't dare wave me down when you find yerself settin' in yer truck wonderin' what to do next. The notion might come to ya like, "Gol dern, now what in tarnation was the matter with me thinkin' that I outta put a new-fangled solenoid on my starter, when a stomper is simpler and works just fine in the first place?"

To see a little more how it works,'f'yant to, have somebody climb in yer truck. You go out and lift the hood and watch while yer buddy mashes the stomper, but have him do it slow-like. You will see how the linkage operates to engage the lever that drives the yoke inside the starter motor pushing the pinion gear into the flywheel, then makin' the electrical switch contact on top of the starter motor. What could be simpler?

Look what happened to the stomper starter in later years as it was "improved."

See, that jest proves to me that God is jest so much smarter than we are.

And that, my friends, is the story of the masher starter (called a mechanical shift starter in the engineering room at GM and Detroit Electric {Delco}), and I wish we had 'em today. I have NEVER had a masher starter fail to crank the engine

Same cain't be said for a solenoid operated starter.

I like the way you put it, Glenn.

Amen.

The switch/solenoid mounts on top of the starter. As wrenchbender and glenn are both right there is some discrepency in parts termenalogy. NAPA has it listed as both a switch and a solenoid. If you need one the st33 will fit any of 6 cyl, use the side terminal if needed. The st11 will fit only the models that DO NOT need the side terminal. These links are for show you a picture. I have no affilation with the company.

http://www.napaonline.com/NOLPPSE/(S(s2xlh1uhcamdxt331s50dc45))/Results.aspx?Ntt=st33&Ntk=Keyword&N=0&Nty=1&D=st33&Dn=0&Dk=1&Dp=3

http://www.napaonline.com/NOLPPSE/(S(bgbzgauxh10ptybmabggq245))/Results.aspx?Ntt=st11&Ntk=Keyword&N=0&Nty=1&D=st11&Dn=0&Dk=1&Dp=3

They are so simple that replacement is rare. If age or wear has caused a loss of contact area they are avilable. The operation is the "wedge" when mashed moves about 3/8" to provide a contact bridge between the battery lug and starter lug there by powering the starter. Simple

Hope it helps
Brad