The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Smoked the starter :(

I could use a little (calming down) before I fix this.

Everything has been peachy for a few yrs. until yesterday I pushed the floor starter button and it depressed and stayed in...very little return. Hmmm.

Linkage appears fine, nothing is hanging up. I manually pressed the starter button ontop the starter and hear an tick each time. Not good. Took the battery cable off and reestablished clean/tight/bright ground from battery to frame and poof

What the heck did I do wrong?

I've got a new starter coming in the mail and will take the old one for re-build but before I smoke that one...helpe me out?

What the heck.

"What did I do wrong"...you bought an old truck. Electo-mechanical devices wear out. I don't know it I would have purchased a new starter until I found out what is wrong but then again, it doesn't hurt to have a spare on the shelf. I would take a good look at the floor starter to make sure it functions as it should. Good luck

POOF ??

What went poof? Did it emit smoke?

Dan Bentler

Your lucky if that's the first starter you ever had go bad in your life.No reason to be upset like beltfed said you bought a old truck .That's the way you learn great knowledge of these trucks when they talk back !

Thanks. I restored it myself 10 yrs. ago and have driven it since.
Yes, smoke came out of the starter case.
Nothing has changed on the truck.
Oh well.

It sounds like there's a short somewhere between the stomp start switch and the back end of the starter where the brushes are located. Check all the connections at the battery and the starter, both hot and ground, and make sure you've got a cable disconnected at the battery as you install the new one. Gently touch the cable to the battery post before you install it to make sure there's not a short remaining. The problem is most likely internal in the old starter, but double-check everything, including the mechanical linkage and the return spring on the stomp pedal.
Jerry

Thanks Jerry.
Hey if I might ask another elec. question.
The heater fan speed control switch I've got is suppsed to screw clamp to the dash. Is that rascal supposed to be insulated from ground or not?

Not necessarily. The speed control is just a variable resistor that drops some of the voltage before before it gets to the heater blower. There's no electrical connection to the bracket, so grounding isn't an issue. Be aware that sucker will get HOT however! If you touch it anywhere except the knob, you can get a nasty burn! A bare leg against the switch housing will sizzle like bacon in a skillet. Your lady friend who's taking a ride with you will not appreciate getting a burn scar there!
Jerry

It needs to be grounded for the little light in it to work.