MTFCA Forum

My friend just bought a nice 1926 Sedan and its 6 volts. We have a problem starting it, when we step on the starter switch it just make a noise and it doesnt turn the engine. Sometimes it engages the engine but turn it enough to start the car, I checked for loose wires and even took the bendix cover off and the spring is not loose or broken. He keeps charging the battery. I checked the ignition switch as well and everything looks good, Any advice would help. Does he need a new starter?

Sounds like it is time for a new starter.

Please be aware, the starter drive , the gear thingy in the cup, must be removed before the starter can be removed from the car. Buy the MTFCA electrical book money we’ll invested.

Suspect the battery first, if the starter Bendix just whirls sound, usually a poor battery if then sometimes turns over the motor vey slow. Just because the battery has charger on it, still could be weak battery. 6 v system needs heavy 6 volt cables and shiny ground at the frame and good connection at the starter terminal.

If the battery is weak it may not start spinning fast enough to engage the bendix
what is the battery voltage, and how much does it drop when engaging the starter
How old is the battery, perhaps have it load tested.
and be careful around a battery that has been constantly charged, if it is gassing a lot on charge a nearby spark can cause it to explode.

Did the car start OK before you bought it? Any history about it that you know of?

Several things already mentioned could be the problem. But it very well could be the starter needs to be replaced or rebuilt if it hasn’t been already over the years. Your T is nearly 100 years old and the parts do wear out eventually. And if you need to take it out BE SURE the bendix assembly is removed FIRST and then remove the starter.

It could be the battery, the starter, the starter switch, the starter drive, or the condition / quality of the battery cables. My guess, based on your description of the symptoms, is the battery. Cheap batteries are no bargain. If you need to replace the battery, get a good one. The same is true for battery and starter cables. An original Model T system would be six volt negative ground.

Batteries in antique cars are often neglected, and even a fairly new battery may be in poor condition.

****Batteries can and do generate explosive hydrogen gas, so care must be taken when working around them. They also contain strong acid.*****

*****Certain precautions need to be taken when removing or tightening the connections at the battery, starter switch, and the starter itself to avoid damage.*****

Although the spring is not loose or broken, is it distorted? The securement loops should be on the same side. If the spring has unwound it may not have enough strength the return the gear back to its’ starting position. Jim Patrick

One common problem with the starter is the connection where the cable attaches to the starter. That terminal bolt must be tight. The nut which holds it to the starter must be tight. And one must be very careful when placing that cable on it that the nut at the top threads are good enough to turn without binding. If the post which comes up through the top of the starter gets loose, it can break a connection inside the starter causing a poor connection. In that case the starter might turn but not get enough current to work at full torque.
Norm

Norman is quite correct in his description ! That would be the first place to verify - second would be verify the ground connection.

Battery cables should be sized as. 0/2 or even 0/0 to carry the amperage needed in the 6 volt system. 12 volt systems use smaller guage cables. My former employer bought a 1950 Cadillac that had hot starting problems with prior installed later 12volt xxx cables.... I told him it needed larger guage for the 6 volt battery in the car to fix starting problems.... He ignored, had mechanic install 8 volt battery... WoW , it started and ran .... Except later the headlights and rear markers burned out. Ha Ha ha ha.

The starter terminal bolt can be a trouble point. Too much torque while tightening the cable can twist the bolt and break the soldered connection to the bus bar inside. I always use two wrenches when tightening the bolt, one below and one above the cable.

Kurt in NJ wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 04, 2023 8:28 am

If the battery is weak it may not start spinning fast enough to engage the bendix
what is the battery voltage, and how much does it drop when engaging the starter
How old is the battery, perhaps have it load tested.
and be careful around a battery that has been constantly charged, if it is gassing a lot on charge a nearby spark can cause it to explode.

Yes. Load test the battery. Even "new" batteries can be defective. & look for voltage loss in the system.
There is not much margin for error in a 6V system.
In many cases one will install a 12V battery to bypass/mask the actual problem/s.
Then theres the hot spots created from those resistance choke points.

Norm is correct about the terminal connection. If not solid, the starter wont use the power put to it.

Kurt is right about sparks around a charging battery. I say a battery explode. 26 roadster trunk filled with gas. The owner pulled the charger clips @ the battery before un plugging. What a mess. Acid everywhere. The owner was really lucky to not have acid in his eyes.
Sobered me up to battery charging safety. It can happen to you.