No Foot Starter
 

Has anyone installed a 6 volt 3 terminal solenoid on a Model A Starter Motor to eliminate the manual foot starter? Is there a diagram as to how this is done with wiring etc.

Thanks to all who respond to my question.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Here's one for Model T, probably works the same.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Thanks very much, that diagram does help.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Don't you need to lock the starter switch in the closed position or something also?

Re: No Foot Starter
 

I had the solenoid / key setup on a sedan when I purchased it. I had to reach through the steering wheel with my left hand to turn the key while I pulled the choke with my right. I quickly took it off and went back to original. It was much easier.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

There's a couple ways to do it, this thread covered it pretty well:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=148555

Re: No Foot Starter
 

YIKES!! That diagram in post #3 of the link above is WRONG. The second small terminal (if the solenoid has one, usually only seen on 12v solenoids) should go to the ignition coil, not GROUND. They are even usually marked with an "I", for ignition.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Seems reasonable (the solenoid body itself is usually the ground), but why does it need a wire to the coil?

Re: No Foot Starter
 

I'm making some up with Solenoid 240-01006 which has a button on it so if your under the hood you can just hit the button in the solenoid and not go to the inside of the car and hit the button. You can use the starter switch, but have to push the copper strip down with a bolt. I have it all worked out and working.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

On 12v systems it will give a full 12v to the coil for starting, bypassing to ballast resister, which reduces the voltage to ~9v. Then when you release to starter switch, 9v is supplied to the coil as the full 12v is not needed once the engine starts.

6v solenoids do not have the second small terminal nor a ballast resistor.

If it was hooked up like the diagram in the link, you would definitely lose some smoke out of your wires.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Not necessarily, depends on how the solenoid is wired internally.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

I seen a "No-Foot-Starter" advertise in latest Model "A" News.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

I have one of those and it was an easy install and I like it a lot. More importantly, my wife likes it!

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Sure solenoids are used in many applications. But I would have to say that 100% of the solenoids I have seen in automotive starter circuits are as I described.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

I started doing the solenoid starter thing back in the late '50s on my '31 AA. I didn't have books, internet, or whatever, I just figured out how to do it myself.

That carried thru to today where I have a key start switch in my '31 pickup.

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Happy Camper here.

Thanks to all who responded to my post. I was able to use the information to successfully install a 6 volt solenoid on my Model A Ford Starter Motor.

It works perfectly!

Thanks again!

Re: No Foot Starter
 

Re: No Foot Starter
 

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Re: No Foot Starter
 

Guys, the foot starter switch is part of the whole Model A experience. It keeps all others guessing what the driver is doing leaning back and stretching out while the motor starts. It is one of the the only cars left on the road where your foot is turning on a 50 amp current to start the engine. I also own 1914 Model T and I can assure you that when that starter switch first appeared, it put smiles on the faces of a lot of people, especially in the winter time!! Ed

Re: No Foot Starter