MTFCA Forum

I took this project on as the Gentleman was at an end. No one could do it, odd armature, twisted, etc. I like a challenge anyway, keeps your brain from becoming mush.

These are rare ducks in my opinion as I have seen ones similar but this one is a Cadillac. I am posting this to maybe help another.


The problem is the armature is shot, the fields and brushes have been messed with and it is an odd size. What to do to make it work? Huuuummmmm!

So after some measuring and calculating, why can I not adapt a Model T Ford guts to fit?

Let the machining begin.....,


Well, after some cleaning up and making the case true, (This thing was made from cast steel not iron. And anyone out there that has done old cast steel knows, BEWARE) Nice and slow on material removal, and watch out for voids and hard spots. The T armature was the easy part, but making that rear brush holder fit was a slow go. The original field blocks were formed into the case so taking them down to the dimensions of a Ford case was needed. That was it for a few days, will post more progress later.

Hank

Very interesting. Thank you for letting us see that. I tke it that it is an accessory electric starter for an early Model T. Why do you say it is a Cadillac?

Herb

Hank likely used that term due to the adv. copy of the A-B-C system.

"Puts Ford starting in the same class with the highest priced cars"

Herb it appears this Model was the refine version of previous models. Unique mechanisms. There was an optional attachment that went on the crank pulley for a generator. Neat how things progressed.

Hank

Some added repairs. This Epoxy is for panel attachment in modern vehicles but man is it strong. I have fused items together that there really was not any other way. The lower mount had a bunch of micro fractures and she was welded before. I noticed little voids here and there so to support it, formed a piece of 1/16" steel plate and epoxied it on. I previously machined the case to accommodate the added dimensions.



Hank

Nice work

Remember, it was Cadillac automobile that introduced the world to the first practical electric self starter in 1912.
This was likely a very early adaption for the Ford. Note, the ad shared by Dan T was October '17, and although a not quite accurate artist's conception, the car pictured is likely also a '17.
The ad also states that the ABC is a "two unit" device. That means a separate starter motor and generator. In the parlance of the day, a "single" unit such device would have used a single housing and armature wired so that with a simple switching it would perform both the starting and the generating.
From the pictures posted so far, it looks like this might be a single unit device? I can't really tell, because most single unit devices used much larger motors in those days.
Similar starter setups were manufactured by several companies for Fords for several years after 1912. They evolved quite a bit over those few years, and I have seen pictures of a number of them. This one looks quite nice!

Fantastic repair workmanship Hank !

Hank, You continue to prove there is more than one way to solve a problem.

As a machinist for most of 60 years, I'd super glue the broken parts together and put the parts on my tracing mill and make a copy in steel.

Your solution and fabricating skills are so simple and great.

watch "Mr. Wizard"!

After all the final machine work and insulating, a quick pre-fit went well. It is a little tight as far as clearances/access but will work. This application requires a CW rotation as viewed from the rear of the case, no problem, North and South reversal by means of changing attachment of the feed post and brushes. You have to do the same thing if any of you are converting to 12 volts using a field coil from a 1956-1996 Ford starter.

Coating the fields.


Cut down Model T armature.

Checking the spacing.

After machining the new bearings, reset thrust, assembly went better than a text book. Operation check and load test..., PERFECT!


Will wait for my graphic artist to return from vacation and he is making me a new tag.

Hope this can assist some of you in your projects in overcoming obstacles.

All the Best,

Hank