The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay What have I burned up???

Have a 49 1/2 with original 216. I was told when I got truck it was a 12 volt system. I do have alt instead of gen, no voltage regulater. Have been having trouble starting truck without having to prime first. I know that this is a mechanical problem, but I was trying to start without priming first and maybe held foot starter down too long because starter stopped and I cant get a single noise out of it now. What could I have possibly fried that would cause me to get nothing when I push starter, checked battery and it is charged. Thanks for any help with this problem.

if it still has a 6V starter, on 12V, you may have fried the starter by cranking it long enough to overheat it .... first check all connections carefully, might have overheated a cable first

Bill

OK I will check it out in the morning, also do I need to be concerned about the coil??

Some folks take the cheap way when converting from 6V to 12V. They get a 12V battery, an alternator and a resistor and leave everything else 6V. Check the starter, it may the the original.

Could you possibly tell me how to check for 6 volt versus 12 volt? Am I to look for a number somewhere

If someone changed the starter, I believe they would have to change the flywheel also. Probably not. A 6V starter has heavier windings and spins better. I am not real up on AD stuff but would guess burned wire, fuse?, loose connection, Ignition switch/foot switch burned out. What do you mean "prime" first? How do you prime? That issue must be resolved also, right away. Also a "charged" battery can be real BAD when loaded. Does everything else work? lights, heater, gauges, etc.? You need to do more investigation. If you are up on electrical stuff, see if you can bypass all ignition switches/foot starters and remote start it. This eliminates most wiring and all switches.

Check your light bulbs. If they're 6v bulbs you have a 6v system. They'd only last a few seconds on 12v.

I have had a 6v coil explode on me when using a 12v battery on a 6v system, at the time we thought it was a 12v system. So yes I would be concerned. Other than finding a # stamped on the starter or taking it apart, dont know how to tell if its a 6 or 12v. But to see if its fried or not you could take a set of jumper cables and connect one cable end to the positive battery post and then just touch the other cable end to the starter power solenoid. It will arc and spark but I have never had any ploblems with the starter after doing this.

What i mean by "prime" is to pour a small amount of gas in the carb then it will always start. For some reason the gas does not stay in the line, once it starts it seems to run good, just cant keep the gas at the carb when i turn it off. When i turn the key on the gauges work lights work, no heater. I can not get a single sound when i push foot starter, no clicking, not anything. Has me baffled.

Before starting with a prime. Look down carb and operate the throttle and see if gas squirts in the throat. If not, bad accelerator pump or no gas in bowl. What you are doing (priming), the accelerator pump should be doing, if there is gas in the bowl. The bowl can be too low because of problem with: float setting, float valve, fuel pump, dirty fuel filter, vacuum leak, carb leak...since in runs OK after starting, sounds like the rest of the system is keeping up with demand for fuel. I'll bet it's not squirting.
As far as the starter goes: read all the advice on troubleshooting given by everyone so far.

I burned my starter last year after rebuilding my carb. I just ran my starter to fill the carb with gas until it finally stopped. Yes a 6 volt starter in a converted to 12 volt system. Had it rebuilt at a local shop, still 6 volt but now the truck starts so easy there isn't any stress on the starter. My shop said it will be fine.

Check your connections from battery to starter. Have had the internal pieces of starter button corrode or have worn spot on the contacf on top of starter. Solved those problems by cleaning contact and/or replacing button assembly. You can bench test starter by removing button assembly and use jumper cables to ground case then touch positive to contact on top of starter. Starter should turn but gear will not slide out as you have to manually slide it via lever on top of starter.

Thanks guys for all the advice, started with the most simple thing first, changed old cable from battery to starter and it is now turning over fine. Now I am heading for the mechanical forum because I am still not getting gas at first. Maybe a carb rebuild will be in order. Thanks again.