The Ford Barn

guy1unico · 11-01-2018, 08:47 PM

Nice fresh motor and 6 volt battery it ran last week.
The battery is charged up. When you hit the start button you here a click and the crank just barely turns over. What could it be you think?
Thank you,
Guy

J Franklin · 11-01-2018, 08:49 PM

Maybe defective battery or starter motor. What size are your battery cables? Do you have a good clean ground?

eagle · 11-01-2018, 08:50 PM

Try turning it over with the crank. Does it turn over reasonably easy? If so put a voltmeter on the starter power lug and check voltage when trying to start. Make sure all connections from battery to frame to engine are clean and tight also.

Jacksonlll · 11-02-2018, 05:01 AM

If the battery is good, it has to be a connection. Most of us run an additional ground cable from the frame to the trans hsg. Make sure all the connections are clean and tight. I did run into a tricky problem where the crimp at one end of a cable was corroded and would not carry much current. The meter showed it ok, but it could not handle starter current. Also, try it for a few seconds and see what gets hot. Just feel around the connections. You may find the problem that way.

1928Mik · 11-02-2018, 08:41 AM

Like Jackson says. My A did the same thing. It was the ground strap that was a bit loose on the battery terminal.

tinkirk · 11-02-2018, 08:47 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by guy1unico

Nice fresh motor and 6 volt battery it ran last week.
The battery is charged up. When you hit the start button you here a click and the crank just barely turns over. What could it be you think?
Thank you,
Guy

pull the plugs out and make sure there is no coolant in the cylinders
then attack the electrical side of things
good luck
Tinkirk/Terry

barnstuf · 11-02-2018, 09:02 AM

When you say "fresh motor" it makes me think the flywheel housing is painted in the area where the starter bolts to it. Both surfaces should be bare and not painted.

Tom Wesenberg · 11-02-2018, 10:25 AM

I've never had a bad connection due to paint. The lock washers should cut through the paint. I'd check the voltage at the battery posts while trying to start the engine.

If you have a cheap master cutoff switch, get rid of it.

Charlie Stephens · 11-02-2018, 12:51 PM

Did you take your battery to a shop (or the store where you bought it) and have it "load tested"? That might identify your problem.

Charlie Stephens

11-01-2018, 08:47 PM	#1
guy1unico Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 583	Model A wont start Nice fresh motor and 6 volt battery it ran last week. The battery is charged up. When you hit the start button you here a click and the crank just barely turns over. What could it be you think? Thank you, Guy

11-01-2018, 08:49 PM	#2
J Franklin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,963	Re: Model A wont start Maybe defective battery or starter motor. What size are your battery cables? Do you have a good clean ground?

11-01-2018, 08:50 PM	#3
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Model A wont start Try turning it over with the crank. Does it turn over reasonably easy? If so put a voltmeter on the starter power lug and check voltage when trying to start. Make sure all connections from battery to frame to engine are clean and tight also. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

11-02-2018, 05:01 AM	#4
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Model A wont start If the battery is good, it has to be a connection. Most of us run an additional ground cable from the frame to the trans hsg. Make sure all the connections are clean and tight. I did run into a tricky problem where the crimp at one end of a cable was corroded and would not carry much current. The meter showed it ok, but it could not handle starter current. Also, try it for a few seconds and see what gets hot. Just feel around the connections. You may find the problem that way.

11-02-2018, 08:41 AM	#5
1928Mik Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Zanesville Ohio USA Posts: 268	Re: Model A wont start Like Jackson says. My A did the same thing. It was the ground strap that was a bit loose on the battery terminal. __________________ 1928 Niagara Blue Phaeton 1972 Olds 442 Convertible 1979 MGB -Life's Too Short To Drive Boring Cars-

11-02-2018, 09:02 AM	#7
barnstuf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 2,840	Re: Model A wont start When you say "fresh motor" it makes me think the flywheel housing is painted in the area where the starter bolts to it. Both surfaces should be bare and not painted.

11-02-2018, 10:25 AM	#8
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Model A wont start I've never had a bad connection due to paint. The lock washers should cut through the paint. I'd check the voltage at the battery posts while trying to start the engine. If you have a cheap master cutoff switch, get rid of it.

11-02-2018, 12:51 PM	#9
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,032	Re: Model A wont start Did you take your battery to a shop (or the store where you bought it) and have it "load tested"? That might identify your problem. Charlie Stephens