Starter Performance

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hbarbee
Posts: 12
Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:20 am
First Name: Hurst
Last Name: Barbee
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Runabout with Pickup Body
Location: Sealy, TX
Board Member Since: 2016

Starter Performance

Post by hbarbee » Sun May 16, 2021 6:42 pm

The starter in my 1927 Roadster Pickup has always seemed weak ever since I purchased this restored pickup. In order to eliminate all the other factors, I installed the following items new and insured all the connections were clean and tight:

1) Optima Red Top 6V 800 CCA battery.
2) Langs heavy duty 1/0 cable set (battery to switch, switch to starter and battery to frame strap).
3) Langs starter switch.
4) 12" cable (same gauge and termination as Langs switch to starter cable) to connect from starter mount bolt to frame.

The starter seems to turn the engine over much better now. The restorer used smaller gauge cables and did not add the starter to frame cable.

There is 6.25V across the battery at rest. There is 4.75V across the starter when it is cranking. Current into the starter during cranking is 125A.

Do these figures seem correct? I would prefer not to do the $445. Langs rebuilt starter!!

Thanks,
Hurst


John kuehn
Posts: 3907
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 8:00 pm
First Name: John
Last Name: Kuehn
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 19 Roadster, 21 Touring, 24 Coupe
Location: Texas
MTFCA Number: 28924

Re: Starter Performance

Post by John kuehn » Sun May 16, 2021 7:50 pm

If your last concern is the starter and with all due respect to Lang’s you can get a good rebuilt unit for around 225.00 from individuals on the forum.
It could be your starter needs a overhaul. Have you considered doing it yourself or just removing it to ck out the brush’s, brush plate, armature and etc. If it’s an older original it may need it. A new set of fields, rebuilt brush plate and cleaned up armature makes a big difference.
I restored mine on my 3 T’s and after I did they really came alive. If I can anybody can. There is lots of information about T starters. Following the advice from the literature and the forum you can’t go wrong.
Good luck!


TXGOAT2
Posts: 6411
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
First Name: Pat
Last Name: McNallen
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
Location: Graham, Texas
MTFCA Number: 51486
Board Member Since: 2021

Re: Starter Performance

Post by TXGOAT2 » Sun May 16, 2021 7:55 pm

Your voltage and current readings sound pretty good to me, if measured right at the starter. I woud re-check all the new connections for tightness. Is it possible you have a dragging clutch or bands causing an extra load on the starter?


Scott_Conger
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Re: Starter Performance

Post by Scott_Conger » Sun May 16, 2021 8:35 pm

Sounds like everything is pretty much fine.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/25 ... 1337040880
Scott Conger

Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny

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Art M
Posts: 840
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:57 pm
First Name: Art
Last Name: Mirtes
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Touring
Location: Huron, Ohio
MTFCA Number: 32489
MTFCI Number: 24068
Board Member Since: 2016

Re: Starter Performance

Post by Art M » Sun May 16, 2021 10:07 pm

Check the voltage at the starter while it is cranking. Check the voltage drop from the battery to the starter while cranking, feel all connection for heat after cranking, make sure the grounding connections are good.


TBill
Posts: 73
Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 12:31 pm
First Name: Bill
Last Name: Obier
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Fordor, 1926 TT, 1913 Speedster (WIP)
Location: Rosedale, LA
MTFCA Number: 28973

Re: Starter Performance

Post by TBill » Mon May 17, 2021 6:29 am

Hammett in Biloxi will rebuild Model T starters and generators for around $200.


Ron Patterson
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Location: Petoskey, Michigan
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Re: Starter Performance

Post by Ron Patterson » Mon May 17, 2021 9:43 am

Hurst
Sounds like you have addressed the most common problems external the the starting motor itself.
If you continue to have have trouble, here is a link to an article that describes the most common internal starting motor fault and how to easily correct it. https://modeltfordfix.com/repairing-a-c ... r-problem/
Ron Patterson


TXGOAT2
Posts: 6411
Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
First Name: Pat
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Location: Graham, Texas
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Board Member Since: 2021

Re: Starter Performance

Post by TXGOAT2 » Mon May 17, 2021 12:19 pm

A Model T starter will not sound as excited as many late model starters.

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Hudson29
Posts: 391
Joined: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:51 pm
First Name: Paul
Last Name: O'Neil
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1923 Runabout
Location: Klamath Falls, OR
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Board Member Since: 2005

Re: Starter Performance

Post by Hudson29 » Mon May 17, 2021 5:07 pm

I was not 100% clear on your story. After all the new parts were installed do you still have an issue? Is it slow compared to other Ts?

My '23 Runabout has always been a slow cranker. I have replaced the wiring with the heavy gage stuff, cleaned the contacts on the original starter switch and use the 6v Optima. The starter has been rebuilt by two different people and it still cranks slow even by Model T standards. I dunno what more to do. Possibly that's just the way some of them are.

Paul
The man with a watch always knows what time it is, the man with two watches is never sure.

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