MTFCA Forum

Hello! I’m new to the model t world. I have a 1924 coupe, the battery keeps grounding out at the starter button on the floor. I’ve placed nylon and rubber washers on both sides of the bolts to prevent them from grounding out on the bracket. I’ve even placed a smaller nylon washer around the bolts to insulate the bolts from the bracket as well. It was running perfectly. Today it hardly cranked and has completely stopped now. The battery is good, I’ve checked that. Just looking for some tips, tricks and wisdom. Thank you all in advance!

Timothy, nylon/rubber washers will be subject to heat and crushing. The usual material used is hard fibre washers. You are on the right track in fitting them. The switch is a simple mechanical device. The only problem some of them have is dirty contacts on the heads of the copper bolts. The reproduction switches are not up to snuff. They often suffer with problems of the plunger housing bending, with poor contact on the bolt heads, and /or the spring contacts being weak and welding themselves to the bolts.

Hope this helps.

Allan from down under.

Thank you. I truly appreciate it!

Tim.... Lang's antique auto parts does offer a rebuilding gasket set for starter switches with fiber gaskets ... Worth a try to save your original starter switch.

Thank you for the suggestion! I had looked on lang’s and couldn’t find anything but I didn’t really know what I was looking for. Found the set now and purchasing a few to have on hand. Much appreciated!

Assuming you have a later style switch with the "bent-over" tabs holding it together, best to anneal the tabs prior to manipulating the tabs straight or if they do break off and they do occasionally, a quick tack weld in several spots will suffice to hold it back together.

I found out by reading this post that Lang’s now offers an original T starter switch washer rebuilding set.
That’s a great idea! This is a much needed item for T owners. As T enthusiasts soon find the original switch’s are the best in the long run.

TimCarlson92 wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 15, 2023 7:33 pm

Hello! I’m new to the model t world. I have a 1924 coupe, the battery keeps grounding out at the starter button on the floor. I’ve placed nylon and rubber washers on both sides of the bolts to prevent them from grounding out on the bracket. I’ve even placed a smaller nylon washer around the bolts to insulate the bolts from the bracket as well. It was running perfectly. Today it hardly cranked and has completely stopped now. The battery is good, I’ve checked that. Just looking for some tips, tricks and wisdom. Thank you all in advance!

It always helps to include a picture of you problem part. Model T's often have a variety of original parts with slight differences as well as reproduction parts from different time periods.
Examples

If you can find an original Ford starter switch, get it. They are much better than the modern reproductions. If the switch as made properly, the switch base should be insulated from the two connection studs with fiber washers. Most times the short is at the starter switch where the switch attaches to the mounting. Sometimes the cable attachments make contact with the mounting f they are not bent away from the mounting. Also, if any part of the threaded switch studs touches the mounting against the inside wall of the mounting hole, it will short out and that includes the threaded area between the two nuts. You may want to enlarge the two mounting holes and make sure the studs are centered in the holes before tightening. You can also insulate the small threaded stud area in the holes with rubber tubing or a rubber gasket material such as “The Right Stuff”. Jim Patrick

The threaded posts going through the mounting bracket should have a fiber insulating gasket to fill the hole that the bolt goes through to center the bolt in the mounting plate location. Other fiber gaskets go on either side of the mounting plate. Using a rubber gasket in that mounting start location is not strong enough to keep that bolt centered and electrically insulated......... And rebuilding that starter switch, if that centering post gasket is in good shape, reuse it... Due to various manufacturers of starter switches in the era, sizes of the mounting bracket hole will vary, and the proper fiber gasket may not be the one that's in the new gasket rebuilding kit.

Tim.... After you receive your order, let us know how you made out

Later style starter switch

Post contacts cleaned up...... Check battery position in battery holder, battery. May need to be elevated with one or two boards between battery and holder frame so that positive cable doesn't touch battery holder frame and short out.

Available from our Model T vendors

Two different sizes ( outer diameter, same inner diameter ) of fiber insulator that fits into the mounting plate and holds the position of the terminal stud.

Than you everyone for your help with all of this! I was able to get the parts and place them and it's all set! Thanks again everyone!