Fried starter solenoid?

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
My first post; also a new HET club member. I'm restoring my '49 Super Six two-door and suspect that my starter solenoid is cooked; perhaps one of you can share thoughts? The car's been converted to 12v and all of the necessary changes have been made, including to the starter. However, I've still been using the original solenoid for it without trouble for about a year. A 4-gauge lead goes to the solenoid (which I've mounted on the inside fender-well) and a 2-gauge goes from there to the starter motor. Earlier in the week, the battery acted as if it didn't have enough juice to turn the engine over; I checked the charge and it is fine. Repeated attempts to turn the engine gave only a very weak crank to the motor and, eventually, nothing. With this try, the lead to the solenoid from the battery grows very hot to the touch and wisps of smoke drift out of the solenoid. Thoughts? All contacts are clean and good. If this is the case, any suggestions for a 12v replacement solenoid?

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I used a ford 12 V solenoid when I switched my car to 12 volts. They are similar and mount in the same place. They don't have the manual plunger on the bottom however.
  • Ol racer
    Ol racer Senior Contributor
    fyi

    Starters can take 12V for short periods of cranking but Solonoids will fry quickly. I also use a Ford Solonoid...
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Okay, perfect, and thanks guys. I had my starter redone for 12v, so hopefully, it will hold out for a little while. Is there a particular year of Ford solenoid you use, or anything with three poles and applicable for a Ford 6 or 8?
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    NAPA/Echlin ST-84. I'd also put 2 ga. wire from battery to solenoid.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Another tidbit for you. Notice that there are 2 small terminals on the Ford solenoid, One goes to your ign. switch and the other is used to buy pass the resistor giving you a full 12v jolt to the coil when starting, makes it start like right now.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    tombia wrote:
    Another tidbit for you. Notice that there are 2 small terminals on the Ford solenoid, One goes to your ign. switch and the other is used to buy pass the resistor giving you a full 12v jolt to the coil when starting, makes it start like right now.



    Does the bypass terminal connect to the + side of the coil, or am I misreading this?:confused:



    Kevin C.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    It goes to the same terminal your ignition switch connects to. Not the points side. Hope that is clear as mud?
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Note that the arrangement Tombia's talking about only applies if your coil has a separate external ballast resistor. The idea is that you inject the full 12v "downstream" of the ballast resistor. You can't do this if your coil has an internal resistor. If you do have the separate resistor and want to wire it for the bypass when cranking, use NAPA/Echlin ST-81 instead of ST-84. The ST-81 has the extra terminal for outputting 12v to the coil when the solenoid is energized.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Park W wrote:
    Note that the arrangement Tombia's talking about only applies if your coil has a separate external ballast resistor. The idea is that you inject the full 12v "downstream" of the ballast resistor. You can't do this if your coil has an internal resistor. If you do have the separate resistor and want to wire it for the bypass when cranking, use NAPA/Echlin ST-81 instead of ST-84. The ST-81 has the extra terminal for outputting 12v to the coil when the solenoid is energized.



    After I wrote that little missile, I was't to sure I could understand what I wrote myself. Thanks to you guys for finishing it for me. Tom Bowler.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    You guys have been a great help! Picked up a ST84 on my way to work this morning; will have time to get it in tonight or tomorrow night.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I know this is a very old post. I just wanted to let everyone know that NAPA/Echlin ST79 12 volt solenoid, has the button to turn over the engine on the bottom.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    It does? That's awesome! That's such a handy little feature.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Makes it easier to line up the clutch plug on the fly wheel. I'd put a picture of it on here, but it's on my computer, not a web site with a url or what ever this site wants.

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Well what do you know!
  • DocHornet
    DocHornet Expert Adviser
    Nice to know a few American solenoids have that activating button on the bottom. I guess they got that idea from virtually every British car built in the 50's!
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    Ken- have you ever tried to start it with the crank handle?
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