The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay floor starter switch help.

I converted my truck to 12v but my floor starter is the only thing left on 6v. A lot of people have said to leave it but I have had too many problems. Mostly, if it's cold and doesn't start right away, it kills the battery. I have a 12 volt key starter... can I swap the windings out and convert my 6 volt starter to 12 volt internals? How hard is it?

The parts don't swap, particularly the armature. The shaft diameter is different. It sounds like you've either got a battery that's going south, a starter that needs rebuilding, or an engine in need of a tune-up. There's no excuse for hard starting if the fuel and ignition systems are functioning propoerly, hot or cold. The engine should start in a maximum of 5 to 10 turns of the crankshaft, maybe 2-3 seconds of cranking.
Jerry

You have other issues. A 6v starter on 12v is a piece of cake.

you could do a proper swap to a 12v starter, but if you have trouble starting it cold, you'll still have the same problem - I'd think maybe you just don't have the drill down on cold starting, not giving it enough choke

Bill

Thanks everyone. I have a feeling it's the battery.

Do you have a starter switch on top the starter for 12 volt? The 55 up switch has a side term. that bypasses the resister in the coil circuit on 12 system. With a weak bat. you are probably not getting a hot enough spark to start it.

Lode51, I have been through the same problem on my 51 Pickup, 235, 12V system, I also still have a 6V starter and it continued turning for years. However, I have taken it completely apart to clean it up, and install a new Bendix and new snap ring. I was having a problem with the Bendix engaging too far and hanging. However, after inspecting the armatur and especially the windings, etc., it will eventually give out. I cud see that it has definately been too hot due continuous starting. I just recently overhauled the carburator and it was a mess after sitting for a while. As, Hot Rod Linconln posted above, fuel, & ignition system is everything on these old machines. I had bad fuel which really messsed up my carb, and even gummed up my valve guides causing my valves to stick and even causing bent push rods. So, bad fuel will really cause a mulitple probs. Because the gasoline smelled so bad, I removed the gas tank and cleaned it out, it was terrible, and so were the gas lines. I removed the main fuel line and cleaned with Chemtool. So in all, the bad fuel really caused a major problem. After getting it all back together, made sure my points were adjusted correctly and definatley the timing. I had to adjust the timing on mine as well because it timing was too slow. Now it starts right up even if it sits for a couple or three days. I dont even have to use the choke. If its tuned up correctly it should start within just a second or two after hitting the foot starter.