The Ford Barn

marty in Ohio · 12-07-2022, 08:21 AM

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

jb-ob · 12-07-2022, 08:30 AM

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

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

CT Jack · 12-07-2022, 08:49 AM

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".

katy · 12-07-2022, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CT Jack

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.

Actually there is more arcing when the contacts disengages.

Rob Doe · 12-07-2022, 11:09 AM

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.

Ray64 · 12-09-2022, 07:36 AM

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

marty in Ohio · 12-09-2022, 07:55 AM

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

mcgarrett · 12-09-2022, 06:28 PM

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?

Brentwood Bob · 12-09-2022, 06:59 PM

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

Jeff/Illinois · 12-09-2022, 07:01 PM

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?

CT Jack · 12-09-2022, 10:04 PM

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.

12-07-2022, 08:21 AM	#1
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 806	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

12-07-2022, 08:30 AM	#2
jb-ob Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 787	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')

12-07-2022, 08:49 AM	#3
CT Jack Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hebron, CT Posts: 537	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".

12-07-2022, 11:09 AM	#5
Rob Doe Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 618	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. __________________ "It ain't what you know for certain that gets ya in trouble. It's what ya know for certain that just ain't so!"

12-09-2022, 07:36 AM	#6
Ray64 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Grafton,OHIO Posts: 755	Re: Starter switch cleanup Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) ,Marty i sent you a PM. did you Get it? RAY

12-09-2022, 07:55 AM	#7
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 806	Re: Starter switch cleanup Yes, Ray. Got it! Thanks. I'll call Freddie Marty

12-09-2022, 06:28 PM	#8
mcgarrett Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Corsicana, Texas Posts: 1,306	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?

12-09-2022, 06:59 PM	#9
Brentwood Bob Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: brentwood, ca Posts: 4,420	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 Last edited by Brentwood Bob; 12-09-2022 at 07:07 PM.

12-09-2022, 07:01 PM	#10
Jeff/Illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,973	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?

12-09-2022, 10:04 PM	#11
CT Jack Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Hebron, CT Posts: 537	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.