Joe Flanagan Posted December 21, 2009 Report Posted December 21, 2009 Today I hooked up my starter to the battery in my truck. I used a set of jumper cables hooked to the truck battery, hooked the ground clamp to the mounting flange on the starter and hit the terminal with the positive clamp. All I got was a very slow spin. I tried it a bunch of times and that was all I could get. I saw a guy perform this test one time and it was like the starter was going to jump right off the ground. I had the starter apart not long ago. I cleaned and lubed it and checked the brushes, which looked practically new. I did have to cut downt the mica on the cummutator head because it was flush with the copper segments. I saw no frayed wires, broken parts, etc. Has anyone trouble-shot their starter without taking it to a shop? Has anyone just plain shot their starter? Quote
greg g Posted December 21, 2009 Report Posted December 21, 2009 It should spin like stink without a load, usually what slows them down is the armeture dragging against the field coils. Or the bushings/ bearings are stuck on the arm shaft. Quote
Jim Yergin Posted December 21, 2009 Report Posted December 21, 2009 Joe, Hopefully you will be able to work any starter problems out yourself. But if not, I had my starter and generator overhauled by Arlington Armature (http://www.starrad.com/). Fair price, good work, and quick turn around. Jim Yergin Quote
greg g Posted December 21, 2009 Report Posted December 21, 2009 Gotta love those old places that say what they are about in their name. Arlington Armature. Brooklyn Pickle, Teds Auto Electric. No disambuation there. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 21, 2009 Author Report Posted December 21, 2009 Jim, I have an Arlington Armature near me. That's where I took my generator to be tested. I may wind up going there but I'm going to pull the starter apart first to see if I can find anything wrong. Only thing I don't like about that is it's hell getting the brushes back into position. Quote
Rodney Bullock Posted December 22, 2009 Report Posted December 22, 2009 I had a time of it with my starter on my plymouth, it was grounding out against the housing. Frank Quinn is a electric service we use here and he is dead on with 6volt systems. He likes that we are into antiques however thinks we all should convert to 12 volts. He has a Lasalle that is stunning and 12 volts. He has fixed most all of the 6volt stuff around here in my garage good sevice after the sale as well. The last time he fixed my generator he adjusted the voltage regulator so they work better together. what ever that means:p I guess once these folks are gone either I will street rod everything or teach myself how to rebuild it:eek: Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 22, 2009 Author Report Posted December 22, 2009 That's why it has to be passed on to us younger old car geeks. So we can become the old old car geeks of the future. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 23, 2009 Author Report Posted December 23, 2009 I took my starter apart today and the assembly, when separated from the case, turns very freely. Installed back in the case, it turns but with a bit of drag. Is this normal? As far as I can tell, it's making contact with the plates on the inside of the case (I know I'm mangling the terminology here). The inside, by the way, is painted green. Everything. Green. I don't know why but it's like someone took a spray can and shot a coat all over everything on the inside. The paint is rubbed off the plates where the rotating starter assembly makes contact with them (not very much). Anyway, I double checked for anything broken, frayed, etc., put it back together and tested it with my truck battery again. Same thing. Just a slow spin. Quote
RobertKB Posted December 23, 2009 Report Posted December 23, 2009 I don't think the armature should be rubbing the fields. I would guess this is your problem. Time for a new starter or get that one fixed by a professional. Quote
55 Fargo Posted December 23, 2009 Report Posted December 23, 2009 (edited) Joe, take the starter in to an old time auto electric shop, get her spinning right. Even if you convert to 12 volt now or later the 6 volt starter in good shape will be the ticket. I took my starter, and genny into just this kind of shop, never regretted it to date, still on 6 volts, new wires, new 2/00 bat cables, all works well......Fred Edited December 23, 2009 by Rockwood Quote
greg g Posted December 23, 2009 Report Posted December 23, 2009 If the armeture is making contact with the field widings, it's like trying to pull two magnets across one another. So your fighting friction and magnetic force, hich is why its not spinning. Quote
Joe Flanagan Posted December 23, 2009 Author Report Posted December 23, 2009 The Canadian fellas are up and at it, I see. Thanks for the advice. You know, I took my generator apart and examined it and lubed it and cleaned it up and then took it to a shop to be tested. I guess I should just do the same with my starter. If the problem is the armature rubbing against the fields, I don't know how to fix that. Quote
greg g Posted December 23, 2009 Report Posted December 23, 2009 Usually happens when the bushing wear and allow the armeture to be pulled over when the fields are charged. When the starter isn't energized, they are not magnitized. Quote
dparksie Posted December 23, 2009 Report Posted December 23, 2009 I just finished rebuilding my starter for a 47 dodge. The "paint" was the anti-corrosion they sprayed on them. The spin is most likely that the bushing or shaft got some dust on em. Try taking off the outer ring and blow out the bushing. Also did you grease the shaft when you put it back together? If so what grease? You have to use light oil on the shaft and bushing or it will bind up some on you. Try air compressor oil as lubricant it is a cheap and easy to get alternative. Another issue may be the bendix. Is it aligned right? Don P Quote
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