The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay '46 Starter linkage problem?

It's an original-everything, 216, 6-volt, daily driver. The starter pedal won't go far enough to activate the starter motor. It's been working fine until today, now it wants to act up.

Any ideas? Thanx in advance if you've got some...

Either your cab mounts collapsed or you need to R&R the switch on the starter.

I think it's just the upper contact on the starter. You can actually just rotate the contacts 180 and keep using them.

It's probably your starter switch. I'd get a new one (about $10) and replace it. Make sure everything is tight and don't forget to use a little silicone lube on the shaft of the new switch. My new one had a tendency to stick closed (not good). Works great after a lube job.

Good Luck
George

Thanx guys. Too late tonight--tomorrow's another day.

Check for loose bolts too!

Well, guys, Mechainiac nearly wins the prize!

The problem part had threads; but, it wasn't exactly a loose bolt.

Did you know the venerable Chevy 216 uses 7 spark plugs? Why, of course it does! Six in the cylinders and one wedged between the firewall and bellhousing, to stop the starter linkage from traveling its full course to activate the starter switch! Yes sir, that's what it was. Boy, do I feel stupid! :confused: I hope my new discovery (about Stovebolts using 7 plugs) helps others to NOT put the old plugs in the valve cover's channel at tune-up time. Or, if you insist on depositing your spent plugs on the valve cover, be sure you collect SIX when you clean up after a tune-up!

That's all...

Ummm,,,,, I meant check for loose spark-plugs

Heh! That qualifies as a garage blunder. Post it in the lounge.

Ya, you can say it came from "Bob's Busted Knuckle Garage."

Cheers...

Does your '46 still have the " current polarity reversing switch " on the starter ? what a PIA that was ! . good idea though .

I miss my '46 3100 terribly .

I don't have any idea vwnate1. If it was there from the factory, I'd guess it still is--nothing has been modified on this beast. I couldn't find the CPRS in the owner's manual, so I don't know what I'd be looking for. Give me a few hints and we'll see. Anybody else got any ideas?

The current polarity reversing switch was an electrical device mounted on top of the starter motor casing. It has three terminals. A slotted rod connects the lever actuating the starter motor to the current polarity reversing switch.

Wiring the switch is not difficult, but I don't have any diagram handy, and I don't remember the source and end of the wiring for the switch. I know the purpose was to change the polarity of the current going to the distributor, ostensibly to reduce the wear on the points in the distributor.

If you have a mechanical shift starter motor (that's one with a boot stomper on the floor by the foot feed), then you could satisfy your craving for a polarity reversing switch. On the other hand, the old truck do just fine without the dang thing.

That's it ! the wires go to the dizzy , it has two terminals on it as the points breaker plate is isolated (no ground) when you depress the starter the current from the coil to the points is reversed , supposedly this makes them last longer , the reality is the engine dies for just a moment when you release the starter and when it's cold out and it barely started it'll ofttimes die .

Another good idea from the folks at Generous Motors Corp.