Solenoid trouble.

[greg g]

Yesterday I was out and about in the p15 in 90 plus heat.  Went to a couple of cruise ins covered about 50 miles or so with the temp gauge at 170.  Got home and decided to go out for dinner.  Went to the local pizza joint and getting ready to leave. Got no response from the solenoid.  Check for loose wire retry start, no response.  Get the small hammer from the tool box and gave it a couple raps.  Started right up.  Shut down in the garage at home and restarted ok.  But it looks like I will be looking for a new one tomorrow.  

 

Any body source a new six volt solenoid lately???  Thinking of checking Tractor Supply. he Oriellies before resorting to online search.

Edited July 19, 2020 by greg g

[Sniper]

Standard SS549 or AC Delco  C952 is what's shown for a p15, a good parts store should be able to cross either of those.

 

The Standard number crosses on O'reilly's webpage.  Not stocked at my local store, but they can have it there by Tuesday, $20.  Or you can go thru RockAuto for $13.59, plus shipping, which would probably make OR's cheaper in the end.

[greg g]

Thanks.

[rallyace]

I found one at Runnings but NAPA or Tractor Supply should also have one.  The one I got was for a Ford tractor.

[9 foot box]

   I bought a SS 549 and the bracket was narrower than the bolt holes. I had to notch out both sides and use washers to mount it in the original holes. That was for my 46 Bus. Cp. built in 45, right A pillar serial no. My 49 first edition Bus. Cp. is mounted further back and at an angle. That solenoid is larger than the original. A tractor one might look more original.

[greg g]

Is 70 amp rating about right?

[9 foot box]

   A good working starter and proper cables would work. I didn’t know they rated in amperage draw. 70 amp. seems good to me. I like the solenoid style with the button on top. Makes it handier than a remote. Probably a Ford item.

[Dan Hiebert]

Same up here, NAPA or O'Reilly's have the Standard and AC Delco but have to order from their warehouse downstate.  Here in two days, no shipping cost.  Our D24 has an AC Delco unit (don't recall the number or amps draw) that I got from Pep Boys about 25 years ago.  No issues. 

[greg g]

Got one on order from Never Any Parts Available. It's their crossover to the standard part number from above.  Say it will be in at 2 pm.

 

Thanks for the input gents.

[greg g]

Pulled the solenoid today bench tested it got 20 out of 20 clicks with the battery charger.  Connection confirmed with continuity tester. So I cleaned up the grounds got some thicker screws and reinstalled with cleaned and tightened battery connections. Started 8 times with no faults.  Went to a cruise in. Wouldn't start no click at go home time.  Kept jamming started button, got a start.  Drove home shut off restarted six times in the garage. 

 

Think the fault may be with the push button switch.  Got the new one but it has a different mount bracket and will need new holes.  Will hold off install till I check the switch. My IGN switch is a later one with the start terminal.  May run a line from there to the solenoid and see how it responds.  The new solenoid has the mechanics friend push button. One of the terminal is labeled battery. Does it matter which terminal is connected to power?  If mounted that way the button end faces down.  Not a big deal but it also might make some of the leads short when repositioned.

[9 foot box]

      I was bench testing my old solenoid and an old button style. I could get the original to click, wired normally. I tried to hook up the button style the same way and nothing. I noticed the batt. terminal is connected internally to the center post on the button style. So, because that post is already hot, you would need to terminate the starter button wire from the fuel gauge and install wire from that connection to ground. My 49 was parked for 40 years and I had intermittent no start. From that I cleaned and secured the amp. gauge connections and the solenoid base mounts for a good ground. The starter button will turn the engine over with the key off, wired that way. A continuity test will verify if your new solenoid is the same as my old one. If I’m right on my assessment. 

 

 

 

[greg g]

Update.  The ignition switch in my car is from a later model as it has the momentary start position at full clock wise.  I got under the dash today and added a wire from there to the solenoid.  As of this afternoon, I did 6 key starts and 6 button starts with no balks.  So I will call it fixed, and keep the new solenoid for cheap insurance (15.00 at Napa) in the travel box, And it will be a gift part for the next owner...

 

For reference the Napa part number for 6v solenoid with mechanics friend button is ST53. price was $14.49 made in Taiwan.  It does need a modified position from stock when mounting.

Edited July 22, 2020 by greg g