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#89394 05/29/2004 8:44 PM | Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 221 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 221 | Got my 46 2 ton running the other day. It had been stored away since last Oct. A half cup of fuel down the carb--turned over about 5 times--away she went. Ran just fine all the way home until almost there when I stalled it in rush hour traffic and it wouldn't spin over fast enough to start again. Got a tow for about 15 feet and she started in 3rd gear just fine. Kind of embarrassing to say the least. This was in spite of new cables last year that were recommended by a battery shop. I had hoped they would cure the problem.
Since those cables didn't seem to do the job I went and got 2/0 welding cable and made up a new set of battery cables. Man!! What a difference! That starter spins over like a turbine now. I can shut the engine down and re-start right away when it's hot. Seems like that has cured the problem.
I know! We've talked about these cables before, but fooling around with stuff smaller than that 2/0 seems to be a waste on 6 volt systems.
Cheers, George | | |
#89395 05/29/2004 9:03 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,746 | You've got two advantages working for you with the welding cable, bigger conductors, and more strands of wire. Since current is carried mostly on the surface of a wire, the more strands there are, the better. I think 2-0 is a little overkill, however. I've used #1 or #0 welding lead with good results, even when there's a long cable length. Be sure the connectors are soldered, not crimped, if possible. The standard 6-volt cable is a #2, or sometimes a #1 wire, but the strands are a lot coarser than welding leads.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
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#89396 05/30/2004 4:03 AM | Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 379 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2001 Posts: 379 | Here on the coast, there are specialty electrical shops that service the marine industry. I found out they can make custom battery cables with copper terminal connectors that are a lot tougher than the lead ones that come with off the shelf types. I had a set made up for my '50 gmc, and believe the investment was worth it. With 12 volts, the bigger cables may not have been that much of an improvement compared to 6 volts, but they still help. Another big help is to run the ground up to the starter and attach it to one of the two bolts there. I then run a separate ground to the frame as well. With the two cables right to the starter, it goes right to work when the button is mashed to the floor!  | | |
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