'30 Model A barely turns over
 

My '30 A coupe barely turns over & won't start. I have 6.12V at the battery. I pulled both battery terminals & cleaned them. Body Ground seems solid. Pulled starter & bench tested, works perfect. Next steps?

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

How hard is it to turn over with the crank?

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Are your cables large enough? 6 volts uses larger diameter cables. The ones for the auto parts store are sized for 12 volts.

Charlie Stephens

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Can you tell if the cables have been replaced?

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

2nd ground to chassis?

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Not any different than normal.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

They are quite large. Not sure if they are original, but definitely are not 12V size. It ran perfectly fine for years. It just started acting up last Summer.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Where is the seond ground? The one coming off the negative on the battery goes to the chassis behind the battery.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Same as it has always been.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Have you done a Load Test on your battery. It may be dying. Your favorite battery store should be able to check it for you.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Load test the battery. Local auto parts stores an do the test, most likely for free, less your labor of r&r the battery

I type slower than Y - blockhead :-(

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

The positive terminal of battery should hook to chassis.

John

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Previous owner converted it to negative ground system.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

I bet this is it! Will know tomorrow! Thanks!

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

It can only be the battery, the starter motor, the starter foot switch, the wires, or the connectors. Eliminate one at a time.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

I have eliminated the rest, so battery it is! Will try a load test tomorrow!

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Agree! Load Test Battery!!! Easy things first!:):rolleyes:

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Harbor Freight has a cheap load tester. https://www.harborfreight.com/100-am...ter-61747.html
Also just don't check that the contacts to the frame and starter are tight. Take them apart and clean them with scotch bright. Corrosion can form between the dis similar metals increasing the resistance.

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Before pulling the battery, turn on the headlights and activate the starter with the ignition OFF. Either you or someone stand in front of the car while this is going on and see if the headlights dim way down as the starter turns. A slight dimming is normal, but if the headlights do dim noticeably and the starter turns the engine over even slower, the battery probably is weak, as has been suggested. Other than problems with the starter itself, this condition could also be caused by a bad ground, although you stated you checked that. You have also verified that the cables are the correct thickness and not auto parts store thin 12-volt cables. With a 6-volt system, good grounds (ground strap and an auxiliary cable) and the correct gauge cables are absolutely essential, something that you might skimp by on using a 12-volt battery. A 6-volt system is less forgiving.
Follow "ModelA29's" suggestion for establishing a good ground to the frame and use an external star lock washer to dig into the crossmember metal. Even though the ground here may look good, the mating area on the crossmember must be shiny down to the metal. I've been fooled by an otherwise clean-looking ground here that affected the starter's operation. Re-check this area and make sure you have the correct braided heavy-duty ground strap and that it is not frayed or corroded from battery acid. Be especially critical where the woven strap enters the attaching end. Often the two are separating from age, battery acid or over-torquing the strap at an odd angle.
Although engine pans only peripherally assist in the electrical system's performance, it's one more area that Ford engineers designed to complete the electrical path throughout the car. I'm not saying a lack of engine pans will cause a starter to turn over slowly. I'm just adding that the engine pans were designed to assist in the overall charging health of a Model A.
Marshall

Re: '30 Model A barely turns over
 

Here is how to install a second ground to the battery.