Foot starter button will not turn motor over

[TMH1953]

1931 model a with 6 volt system. I'am new to model A's . The car has been starting great up until today. Started car and backed it out of garage and turned off ignition switch. Later got ready to for a drive turned ignition switch on hit pushed foot starter button and nothing happened. Ch checked voltage at starter motor 6.6. Volts. Checked voltage at coil 6.6 volts. Put car in 3rd gear and rocked back and forth about 2 foot forward and 2 foot backward while watching fan fan was moving back and forth. What could possibly be wrong.

[JDupuis]

Starter pedal switch may be dirty. Easy to take apart and clean. Good Luck. Jeff



Also "Welcome to the Barn". I hope you make yourself at home here.

[1955cj5]

I would check the cable connections at the battery, and also where the cables connect to the frame and at the starter switch.

A poor connection may allow the 6.6 volts to pass easily but may not carry the load needed to turn the starter.

If you find that you need to remove and clean the starter switch be sure to disconnect the battery cables at the battery first....

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[1955cj5]

The inside of the starter switch looks like the attached picture.

When you push on the starter foot button you force the copper contact against a contact on the starter itself. If either are corroded it may not work....

[TMH1953]

Will check all of the above in morning. I have always wanted a model a the car is a blast and o drive, hopefully you guys will excuse my ignorance the learning curve is slow and steady.

[1955cj5]

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Learning about the cars is at least half the fun of owning one....

Post a picture of your car if you get a chance!

Randy


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[30Ford]

The rod may be too short to engage the starter contact

[davehc]

Dont worry about the questions , we have all been there at one time or another , ask all you want , theirs always someone here who will know a good answer . I had the same problem this spring , took the starter contact off , cleaned it , was good to go . And yes , show us a pic.

[TMH1953]

Trying to figure out how to post a picture of my car using photo album on I phone.

[Dick Steinkamp]

I've had that starter rod unscrew itself from the starter switch.

[aermotor]

Originally Posted by Dick Steinkamp

I've had that starter rod unscrew itself from the starter switch.

Me too - don't forget the jam nut on the rod.

John

[old31]

Originally Posted by TMH1953

Trying to figure out how to post a picture of my car using photo album on I phone.

1: From the iphone send the pics to your email.

2: Open the pics up from your email. I use Paint because its easy and great for cropping.

3: Save and send the pic to your desktop.

4: In this area of the thread go to "manage attachments" and go get the pics from your desktop and download them to the thread.

5: When done cut the pics from the desktop and past them to your favorite picture folder on your computer.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Are you pushing the right button, and are you pushing hard enough?

[TMH1953]

Yes sir pushing the right button and pushing hard. I have had the car about 6 months and this is the first time this has happened. Heading out to my shop in few minutes and goi g to check everything posted above. Grounds, battery connections, if al checks out will pull starter switch and try clean it up. Got a new starter switch ordered thru Synder's just in case. Again thanks to all of for helping me out

[SeaSlugs]

Starter might have a funky spot. Id clean and check the switch first to rule it out. When you cranked it to start it did it crank what youd consider normal? Was it weak sounding ( they do crank slower than a modern car)

[frank mcdaniels]

No problem, just always park on a hill.

[TMH1953]

Thanks a million for all the idea's and advice. Took floorboard out and disconnected both positive and ground cables. Cleaned both ends of cables and cleaned and filed where positive grounds on frame. Put her back together and she STARTED on First revolution of engine . Think the problem was a bad ground to frame. The frame was nasty and greasy where it was grounded.

[SeaSlugs]

Glad you found it. Alot of us add a ground from the frame to an engine to trans bolt or oil pan bolt. Can never have enough grounds haha.

[100IH]

Original configuration was pos. to ground / neg. was the hot lead going to starter and junction box. Can work both ways for starter and incandescent lights. If you change it,you must polarise unless you have a modified cutout on the generator. Probably do some reading on this and post pictures of engine compartment and generator area, and leave well enough for now till you know exactly what you have. Lot of A people in Texas to help you identify any modifications that are polarity sensitive.

[TMH1953]

10/4 my model a 1931 Deluxe Tudor Sedan. It's still 6 volt system with positive ground only thing that has been altered is it has 6 volt Nu Rex alternator and a updated water pump but a still have the generator and old water pump.

[Jacksonlll]

Rebuild that old water pump. Easy to do and it will give you a spare when that leakless isn't leak less anymore.

[captndan]

Originally Posted by TMH1953

Thanks a million for all the idea's and advice. Took floorboard out and disconnected both positive and ground cables. Cleaned both ends of cables and cleaned and filed where positive grounds on frame. Put her back together and she STARTED on First revolution of engine . Think the problem was a bad ground to frame. The frame was nasty and greasy where it was grounded.

This is why I recommend using a second cable. Directly from battery to
Starter bolt. Eliminates several metal to metal connections.

[TMH1953]

Will repair old water pump
Additional ground wire. Can I use same gauge wire as you do for a 12 volt system ?

[burner31]

Easy way for pics:
Click the "blue post reply" lower left bottom of page, when text box opens, in the top middle of the bar you will see a "paperclip" click that, a window will open "manage attachments" click "choose file" then pick your picture, after you picked up to seven pics click the top "upload" on the right hand side of the text box, wait for it to upload.
You must type something, anything into the text box message, scroll down to see "preview post" at bottom of your text box, you should see your message as it will appear when you post, if you like it click "submit reply" to post.
Easy-cheesy

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by TMH1953

Will repair old water pump
Additional ground wire. Can I use same gauge wire as you do for a 12 volt system ?

yes, im using 2 short braided wires about 1/2" wide from each frame rail to oil pan bolts on either side of the engine. they arent carrying the full ground load so yes 12v cables is more than enough.

also braided flat wire straps will still look period correct and noone out there will know nor will it be obvious.

[Jeff/Illinois]

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Clean the battery posts and put the cables back on 'snug'. First test to do.

I disconnected the NEG. cable once while I was doing some work around the fuel gauge. Press fitted it back on the battery and forgot about it.

The car started fine first several times and then nothing. I popped the headlights on and hit the starter button, wouldn't crank and lites went out. Thought ' bad battery' and/or dirty terminals. Cleaned both terminals they looked good. Battery was only 6 months old. Took battery out, did a load test on it, it was fine, put it back in only this time tightened the clamps and 'voila' been cranking every time.

I also read where running a loose connection like I had can cause a voltage spike which may toast your generator if you are running the original three brush set-up not an Electronic Voltage Regulater, an EVR, in place of the third brush. Tom Wesenberg will know the facts on that.

[TMH1953]

ThanksIMG_0777.jpg

[Terry, NJ]

My short ground (Pos.) cable runs to a hole in the chassis, not to the crossmember, I put a secondary ground to a bolt that holds the starter into the flywheel housing. The effect was dramatically good! The starter spun a little faster and the charge lasted longer. I recommend it to anyone who is not building a points car. There are several ground paths through the chassis, even the throttle linkage. All are subject to rusting over the last 85+ years. as they rust, the electrical continuity diminishes and you can get slow or no cranking. Also, the words to live by with electricity are "Clean, Bright, and Tight".Also, having the right sized cables helps a lot. I would not use 12V cables.
Terry

[TMH1953]

What would or what did you use

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by Jacksonlll

Rebuild that old water pump. Easy to do and it will give you a spare when that leakless isn't leak less anymore.

Haha, Good One... I take it you don't think much of the "Leakless" water pumps.

[john charlton]

Pleased to hear you got it fixed my 28 phaeton has just developed the same fault . I put the headlights on and when I pressed the starter the lights went out . This indicated a short in the starter itself so I pulled it and on the bench it works fine . The commutater was very dirty/greasy so I cleaned it and used 400 grit to burnish it . Right now I am rotating it incrementaly to check if I have a bad patch that goes to earth (if that is technically possible) . My battery cables and cable from motor to frame are new . Should finish rotation check today and if all OK I will pop it back and see what happens . If still no good it will be back to the hand crank but it has the AF small bore engine so will swing more easily .It has the multi disc clutch so I cant do a starter motor swap as I dont have another early starter . SIGH .

John in very cold Suffolk County England .

[Jacksonlll]

That still sounds like a bad connection' Double all four connections and make sure they are tight. I ran into one where the crimp to the cable was bad and we chased a ghost for a long time before we found it.

[klawockvet]

External star washers on both ends of the ground straps/cables help immensely. In fact they help at all connections.

[TMH1953]

Model a

[1955cj5]

Really nice looking Model A.....and that green park setting looks inviting this time of year!

I used the cable offered by the vendors when installing a battery disconnect switch. The switch is between the battery and frame (positive side) and the extra cable runs to the top starter bolt.

Various installations are shown here..

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3654

Here is the switch. Most put it on the positive/frame side of the battery instead of where Bratton's suggests.


https://www.brattons.com/electrical-...ct-switch.html

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