The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Wiring Question '59 apache

There is a purple/violet wire that goes from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid. What is the purpose of this wire? The reason I'm asking is that I have eliminated the stomp starter and I am attempting to install a push button switch to start the truck with a modern GM starter and solenoid. The way I have it set up now, the purple wire is holding the solenoid closed after I release the starter button. I did a voltage test on the purple wire and it only reads 5 volts so it is not strong enough to pull the solenoid in but it's strong enough to hold it in. Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.

That wire is to bring the full 12V to the coil, rather than the dropped voltage after the ballast resistor, during starting (cranking) only.

it brings 12 volts up to the ign switch where it is connected to the green wire returning to the coil. once you stop cranking the coil is only fed from the dropped voltage from the resistor. So you don't need it if you 1) don't want the full 12 V to the coil while starting (might be harder to start) or 2) find a way to do that with additional contacts on your button switch.

you will need a wire to bypass the resistor while starting as Tom says - you can see the stomp start ignition wiring here - the 'next' pic in that album shows the solenoid start switch wiring, comparing them might help figure out what you need .... might be easier if you use a V8 key-start switch instead of a push button

Bill

So if I understand you correctly the purple wire should go to the "R" terminal of the solenoid instead of the "S" terminal where I have it connected now giving it a momentary 12v feed for the resistor by-pass.

The purple, about 12 gauge wire, goes to the S term on the selinoid. It supplies current to the selinoid to energize it. If you have a key turn switch you may have it on the wrong term. If you want to run it off a push button hook the purple wire to the button & a hot wire to the other term on the push button.

well......Now I am really confused????
tomctomc indicated it was the resistor by-pass power to the coil which made sense.If the truck was originally started with a stomp starter I didn't believe there was a need for a wire to pull in the solenoid since it was pulled in manually with your foot. guess I'm lost here. Am I really that far off?

Your time is greatly appreciated.

hey VI, don't let colors confuse you, the V8 key start wiring colors were slightly different as 'bender says, and Tom is correct for a foot start, violet is the resistor bypass and there is no solenoid wire - if you previously had a foot start, simply leave the violet wire as the bypass and add a polka dot one from your new push switch to the S terminal .... think function - you need a wire to put power to the solenoid, and you need a full 12V to bypass the ignition resistor for easy starts, we won't tell if you use odd colors

Bill

Squeeze:

if I use the violet as the bypass it should got to the "R" terminal of the new solenoid and the green will still go to the + side of the coil and I can pick up a switched power source for the new button to the "S" terminal of the solenoid. Does this sound correct?
I appreciate everyone's input.

Hy Village_Idiot, as the guys have said, never mind the colours. You need to install two new wires, one from the "S" terminal of the solenoid to one side of your new push button switch, and another one from the other terminal of your push button switch to either a hot or switched twelve volt source, hope that helps.

yes, with the push switch as 3B outlines

Bill

V I,

you need to draw out your schematic on a piece of paper... until you understand what you are trying to accomplish. It is really tough to visualize electrical connections/wiring using words alone.

tomctomc,

Agreed. sometimes I tend to over think things to the point of complete confusion. I wanted to utilize the existing by-pass circuit as it was designed if possible and install a new circuit to operate the starter. I believe I have a handle on it now.