The Ford Barn

rick m · 07-24-2016, 12:46 PM

Hi,
I have 1930 Pickup that I start up and drive around the neighborhood each weekend. Suddenly it won’t start. The key is in and “on”, when I push down on the starter switch the starter doesn’t turn - no movement or sound at all. I pulled the battery and had it checked, passed and was 80% charged. I also checked the fuse on the top of the starter which looks fine too.

Any help to troubleshoot this would be very much appreciated

Thank you
Rick

Mitch//pa · 07-24-2016, 01:12 PM

The starter drive could be stuck in the flywheel teeth... Put the car in gear and try rocking it back and forth to free it up...

Patrick L. · 07-24-2016, 02:14 PM

Once again, I'm agreeing with Mitch. Thats the first to look at.

That should work. If it doesn't, let us know.

Jacksonlll · 07-25-2016, 05:38 AM

Put it in third gear and push it backwards. Push hard.

colin1928 · 07-25-2016, 06:14 AM

check voltage at the starter

marty in Ohio · 07-25-2016, 07:13 AM

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Rickm,
Even if the fuse on the starter is "blown" it should still crank.
Marty

rick m · 07-25-2016, 08:11 AM

Thank you guys so much! I really had to rock it, more than I expected. But once I did it turned right over!

Thanks!!
Rick

BILL WILLIAMSON · 07-25-2016, 09:29 AM

CHRONIC starter locking can be helped by rubbing HEAVY grease into the flywheel TEETH. (TIP# 203)
Bill Slick

Ken Anderson · 07-25-2016, 09:34 AM

My Vicky that I used to have would do that every now and then. I would do the same rocking trick, it would "pop", then no problems - until the next time!

Tom Wesenberg · 07-25-2016, 06:13 PM

Actually it's the forward motion that will disengage the drive pinion. The flywheel needs to spin faster than the starter to disengage it. If the engine starts, then the faster moving flywheel will spin the pinion rearward on it's helix. If the starter is not moving, but you push the car forward in high gear, then the flywheel will spin the stuck pinion rearward and out of engagement. If this happens again, then I'd be looking for the cause, which could be worn teeth or a bent starter shaft.

Mitch//pa · 07-25-2016, 06:15 PM

I had a low battery cause it to stick before

Jacksonlll · 07-26-2016, 06:09 AM

I have to disagree with Tom. You have to get that ring gear going backwards to unstick the two gears.

Tom Wesenberg · 07-26-2016, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

I have to disagree with Tom. You have to get that ring gear going backwards to unstick the two gears.

Look at the helix and see which way the pinion would have to turn to move it rearward.

mshmodela · 07-26-2016, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

I had a llow battery cause it to stick before

DITTO! Get a hydrometer and check each cell... Mine low batter would appear fine then ~ 24hrs later be very weak.. I suspect a not so good tricky charger... My fix was to use a Fixed 6V/6A charger and charge it for 12 hrs one day, and repeat the same the next day... I've yet to stick a charger on my battery since then (Oct 2015.)...

Jemelton# · 07-26-2016, 08:42 AM

I had the same issue however, my problem was that the contacts on the starter switch were burnt to the point that a new switch was the answer.

07-24-2016, 12:46 PM	#1
rick m Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 4	Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over Hi, I have 1930 Pickup that I start up and drive around the neighborhood each weekend. Suddenly it won’t start. The key is in and “on”, when I push down on the starter switch the starter doesn’t turn - no movement or sound at all. I pulled the battery and had it checked, passed and was 80% charged. I also checked the fuse on the top of the starter which looks fine too. Any help to troubleshoot this would be very much appreciated Thank you Rick

07-24-2016, 01:12 PM	#2
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over The starter drive could be stuck in the flywheel teeth... Put the car in gear and try rocking it back and forth to free it up...

07-24-2016, 02:14 PM	#3
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over Once again, I'm agreeing with Mitch. Thats the first to look at. That should work. If it doesn't, let us know.

07-25-2016, 05:38 AM	#4
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over Put it in third gear and push it backwards. Push hard.

07-25-2016, 06:14 AM	#5
colin1928 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Australa Melbourne Posts: 878	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over check voltage at the starter

07-25-2016, 07:13 AM	#6
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 756	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Rickm, Even if the fuse on the starter is "blown" it should still crank. Marty

07-25-2016, 08:11 AM	#7
rick m Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 4	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over Thank you guys so much! I really had to rock it, more than I expected. But once I did it turned right over! Thanks!! Rick

07-25-2016, 09:29 AM	#8
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over CHRONIC starter locking can be helped by rubbing HEAVY grease into the flywheel TEETH. (TIP# 203) Bill Slick __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

07-25-2016, 09:34 AM	#9
Ken Anderson Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Panama City, Florida Posts: 54	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over My Vicky that I used to have would do that every now and then. I would do the same rocking trick, it would "pop", then no problems - until the next time!

07-25-2016, 06:13 PM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over Actually it's the forward motion that will disengage the drive pinion. The flywheel needs to spin faster than the starter to disengage it. If the engine starts, then the faster moving flywheel will spin the pinion rearward on it's helix. If the starter is not moving, but you push the car forward in high gear, then the flywheel will spin the stuck pinion rearward and out of engagement. If this happens again, then I'd be looking for the cause, which could be worn teeth or a bent starter shaft.

07-25-2016, 06:15 PM	#11
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over I had a low battery cause it to stick before Last edited by Mitch//pa; 07-26-2016 at 08:36 AM.

07-26-2016, 06:09 AM	#12
Jacksonlll Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Michigan-- Member of Oakleaf of MARC Posts: 1,686	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over I have to disagree with Tom. You have to get that ring gear going backwards to unstick the two gears.

07-26-2016, 08:42 AM	#15
Jemelton# Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: SW Iowa, Near Omaha, NE Posts: 110	Re: Had been running fine, but now it won’t turn over I had the same issue however, my problem was that the contacts on the starter switch were burnt to the point that a new switch was the answer.