Starter switch cleanup
 

My '30 town sedan is hibernating for the winter so now is a good time to tinker. The car always starts but the starter growls a couple times before the engine fires. I took the starter out and checked the brushes. All good there. Then I checked the contacts between the starter and the switch. They were worn and dirty. I cleaned them and ran a file over them and now my starter ZINGS!
I was ready to buy a new starter but followed the advice I seen on Ford Barn.
"Do the easy, cheap things first." It paid off for me.
Marty

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

Next remove the battery & clean the ground strap connection to frame.

It is still a 6 volt Ford. (think 'Tight & Bright')

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

The copper contact in the starter switch after many start cycles begins to pit due to a small amount of arcing each time it engages. This pitting over time begins to reduce the amount of surface area for a good electrical contact. As the surface area of contact gets smaller the resistance of the electrical contact begins to increase which intern reduces the amount power needed to effectively turnover the starter motor. As Marty in Ohio states after filing the contacts his starter now "Zings".

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

Actually there is more arcing when the contacts disengages.

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

Gentlemen, I'd like to respectfully add that the Les Andrews second volume "Diagnosis and Troubleshooting" manual describes how to use voltage testing to easily find these and other driveability issues.

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

,Marty i sent you a PM. did you Get it? RAY

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

Yes, Ray. Got it! Thanks. I'll call Freddie
Marty

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

Maybe a sophomoric question, but would applying silver solder to the pitting on the switch contact strip do any good or is that a bad idea?

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

Heat is not your friend if you were to solder to fill the pitting.
This might help to refurbish your starter switch.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lDBNoU0ZvLQ

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

Good preventive maintenance Marty thanks for that.

Seems like I read somewhere years ago, to be careful not to be too abrasive cleaning those contacts to use something pretty fine so as not to leave scratches?

Re: Starter switch cleanup
 

The goal for optimum electrical contact is to have both contact surfaces as flat and parallel as possible. Filing the copper surfaces is the best method to achieve this. It is no different than what many do to make their ignition points function better. Running a file or emory paper between the points is to some degree a way of restoring the mating surfaces. This removes some of the surface pitting or the non-conductive corrosion.