QuestionQUESTION: Hi Brad,I have a 1949/50 Ford v-8 flathead that only clicks when I hit the starer button.It has a fully charged 6 volt battery.I cleaned all the cable ends that attach to the battery,solenoid and the starter.It still only clicks.When it does click,I can feel it if I have my hand on the solenoid.Is that normal? One side of the solenoid is marked Bat. and it is an original solenoid with the FoMoCo stamping on it.I do have another solenoid but it has NO markings on it.It too is a original solenoid with the factory logo stamped on it.Is it possible to hook it up wrong? The one currently on the car has been hooked up that way for 10 years and DID work until recently.Just wondering if I try the other one if I could hook it up wrong?With all that being said,It could be a bad starter,correct?Any way I can test the starter?I called my local NAPA store and they have no way of testing it or getting me a new one if I need it.The car has been sitting unstarted for about 6 months.Thank you in advance for any help you can provide me with.Tom
ANSWER: Sorry for the delay, but since I am an old guy, chasing 80 and still running my own business I tend to get caught up at times. Not as swift as I once was. I rebuild carburetors and electrical stuff for old cars. Well that said here is how I would check this problem out. You will need a test light and a jumper cable. First it is normal to feel the solenoid click. Yes it is possable to connect the solenoid wrong but unless you have intelligent squirreels it will not change itself. Ok. Connect your test light to ground and put the point on the terminal of the solenoid that goes to the starter. Have some one turn the key. The solenoid should click and the test light turn on. If it clicks and the light light and the starter does not turn, the starter or the starter cable is susspect. If the light does not come on and the solenoid clicks the solenoid is bad. To check the starter on the car. Disconnect the ground lead from the battery. Connect one jumper cable from the live terminal of the battery to the stud of the solenoid that goes to the starter. Connect the other jumper cable to the ground side of the battery and then make the final connection to ground with that cable on the other side of the car as far away from the battery as you can get. You go not want any sparks close to the battery. If the starter does not turn you will need to emove it for service.
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QUESTION: Hi Brad,No need to apologize for your response time,your knowledge is well worth the wait.I do have another 6 volt solenoid that I would like to try/test.There are no markings on it as far as Battery go.How do I know which way to hook it up? Can I do any damage if I hook it up wrong? I do have another Ford with a 6 volt system and the solenoid is hooked up differently.If I put them next to each other,the terminal going to the starter are on opposite sides.Thank you,Tom
ANSWER: Do you have a volt ohm meter? Let me know.
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QUESTION: Goodmorning Brad,Yes I do have a volt/ohm meter.
AnswerOk, the 6 volt solenoid should have 2 large terminals and one small terminal. Connect the ohm meter to one of the large terminals and the small terminal. If the ohm meter shows continuity then that large terminal is the one to connect to the starter. The one that has no continuity with the small terminal is the one connected to the battery. The test for the solenoid is in the previous answer. Ok. Connect your test light to ground and put the point on the terminal of the solenoid that goes to the starter. Have some one turn the key. The solenoid should click and the test light turn on.
