Starter Performance
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Topic author - 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
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
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
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- 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
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!
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!
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- 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
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?
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- Posts: 6428
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:18 am
- First Name: Scott
- Last Name: Conger
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13, '15, '19, '23
- Location: Clark, WY
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: Starter Performance
Scott Conger
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
Tyranny under the guise of law is still Tyranny
NH Full Flow Float Valves
Obsolete carburetor parts manufactured
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- 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
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.
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- 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
Hammett in Biloxi will rebuild Model T starters and generators for around $200.
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- Posts: 533
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:32 pm
- First Name: Ronald
- Last Name: Patterson
- Location: Petoskey, Michigan
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Starter Performance
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
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
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- 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
A Model T starter will not sound as excited as many late model starters.
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- 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
- MTFCI Number: 18018
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: Starter Performance
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
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.