Yesterday I was trying to start my '53 Hornet & ran down my 6v battery. I hooked up my battery charger & switched on the 50amp "engine start" function. Tried starting the car but unsuccessful. I gave up, disconnected the neg. post & connected the 6v trickle charger. This morning I went out to try again, however when I went to reconnect the neg. post all of a sudden the engine started to turn over even with the ignition key turned off!!!!! Any ideas as to what I've done wrong????
regards
J
Your starter solenoid was stuck on. Replace it. Walt.
Walt:
You were right!! I went out & banged on the solenoid & that solved the problem. Thanks a bunch!
regards
J Lombard
That may have temporarily 'solved" the problem, but since the contacts were obviously welded together, presumably as a result of extended cranking, the problem may repeat itself at a far less opportune time than in your own driveway. You might consider acquiring a replacement in the meantime.
F
J Lombard,
If your 53 starter has the stand alone solenoid atop with a pushbutton, you may wish to grap the button with two fingers and rotate it 45°. This will rotate the contactor disc with respect to the two terminal lugs inside. The result is that a nice clean (un arced) portion of the contactor disc is now available to conduct the starting current.
Replacing it will, of course, get you new lugs that haven't been arced, but in my experience, my recommendation has prolonged the life of many starter solenoids as well as resolved slow starting symptoms. Remember also that if you have a low battery, poor starter connections, poor ground connections or anything less than a 0 gauge conductor from battery to starter, then the starter is not getting sufficient voltage and therefore current to do its job correctly and quickly. Slow starts and no starts mean many more cycles of the starter solenoid, leading to further arching and wear out.
I hope this helps.
Pat
1948 to some 1950's had the solenoid on the starter, all after had the solenoid on the left inner fender panel. Walt.
Frank - Yes I plan on getting a new solenoid
Pat - my '53 has a separate solenoid as Walt says it is on the left inner fender.
thanks all
J
J,
I should have stated my point better. Many of the remote mount solenoids are similar to those that bolt onto the starters, such as the Autolite 4001 type. I meant to differentiate between those and the type that have the integral mechanism to through the pinion into the flywheel.
So, my proposal will work on those remote solenoids that have the pushbutton feature.
Pat
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