Re: Starter Overhaul --Yes, there really IS a finale!!!

Posted by Gordon Biggar on July 17, 1998 at 22:35:48

In Reply to: Starter Overhaul -- the finale...
posted by Gordon Biggar on July 16, 1998 at 21:02:22

: It seems the closer I get to cranking up my "A" after overhauling both the engine, transmission, and anything else that I saw move, the farther away I find myself from ignition!
: When I overhauled the starter a couple of months back, I thought it was a piece of cake (at least for an English Literature major).All I did was turn the commutator and replace the bushings.The brushes were okay, although there was some minor fraying on one or two of the wires in isolated spots.The shaft turns ever so smoothly to boot.
: Naturally, when I went to crank the engine for the "big test," nothing!I knew it had to be the starter switch -- it could not have been my rebuild.Wrong!Switch is fine, but putting juice to the starter terminal creates sparks, but nothing else.I should note that the starter worked perfectly prior to my overhaul.(I hate to admit that.)
: Are there continuity/voltage tests that I can perform to determine if there is a short (somewhat obvious), and where.Can one isolate whether the fault lies in the wiring to the brushes (they are seating well on the commutator), the windings on the armature, or the field coils?
: One day...
: Thanks in advance for any and all thoughts, polite or otherwise.
: Regards,
: Gordon

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, particularly as it relates to the restoration of Model "A's."As some of you know, if someone tells me that something cannot be easily done, or that I should leave well enough alone (like tearing apart a clutch, DJ!), I will take it apart, even when that part is functioning well, just because of the challenge.
As I mentioned in a response to Carla, late last night (in the shower) I devised a continuity test for the field coil circuit.That also got me thinking about the placement of the ground vs. the field coil brushes.They would have to be diametrically opposed to each other.When I looked at my setup today, the two ground brushes were adjacent to each other.
The rest is history, as they say.After putting the starter back together, I used a battery charger to turn the armature.It purred like a kitten (much to my chagrin).I mounted the starter, and the engine turned over ever so smoothly.
Tomorrow, we add gasoline to the equation, and test how effective Biggar's resizing of carburetor jets has been.After a little over a year, we might actually get to drive the car.While I think of it, it would also be nice if the trans shifts easily through all four gears...
Call it humble pie (or whatever), I'm eating it.But I've learned a lot -- and won't make that mistake again.
Thank you all for your thoughts.
Meekly,
Gordon Biggar

Follow Ups:
No meekness required. Joe July 20, 1998 at 10:34:10(0)
Re: Starter Overhaul --Yes, there really IS a finale!!! DJ.Voyce July 18, 1998 at 01:33:29(0)
Re: Starter Overhaul --well done, gordon-----! ! carla July 17, 1998 at 22:58:15(0)

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