47 Chrysler wiring

[ssdave]

Kind of an obscure question, but here goes anyway. Rewiring a 47 Chrysler and there's a brown wire that goes from the generator to starter solenoid. Anyone know it's purpose?

[normanpitkin]

i think its a safety feature to prevent the operation of the starter with the  engine running.It disconnects the solenoid when there is sufficient voltage to equalise the pressure from the push button.

[ssdave]

Thank you very much!

[dpollo]

That is exactly what it does.  The starter solenoid makes its ground through the generator armature. When the generator is charging, the voltage is equal to that provided through the starter switch so the solenoid cannot activate the starter.  On 49 and up, this wire is attached at the voltage regulator    When generator brushes wear out, it can make it impossible to activate the starter.  I wonder how many perfectly good starters got replaced when it was the generator's fault.

 

[DonaldSmith]

When a added an alternator to my 47 DeSoto, I grounded the brown wire.  This now means that I can grind the starter with the engine on - no longer foolproof.  If I were concerned, I could rig up an oil pressure shutoff switch, like I did for my electric fuel pump.