ESSEX 1929 tourer

Unknown
Unknown
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hi



Can any one shed a light on my problem of 6 volts.



Starting the car is a real problem with the 6 volt battery. Can I either upgrade the battery to 12 volts or is the power from the battery not going direct to the starter motor?



I currently have to jump the 6vlt with a spare 12 vlt I have knocking around in the garage?



Thanks folks



CHris Hardy UK

Comments

  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Chris, the common solution to this problem is to check all your electrical connections, and make SURE you're using the correct-gauge battery cables. Make sure someone hasn't replaced the battery cable with a modern, smaller-diameter 12-volt cable at some point in the car's life, for example. Make sure the ground straps all contact bare metal, and that both the battery and engine have separate grounds to each other and the battery. Do you have some sort of aftermarket battery on-off switch? This could be the culprit (especially if it was made for a 12-volt car).



    Of course, there might be a problem with the starter itself. If all else fails have this checked out.



    I have a 6-volt 1937 car and starting is never a problem!



    (I'm sure Geoff Clark will jump in here sometime today, and add some additional helpful hints, since his everyday-car is a 1928 Essex!)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Thanks for the feed back, All my cables are the smaller 12v style and yes I have a 12v engine cut off switch.



    Also when the engine is on tick over the amp metre is on negative and goes into full reverese when I turn the head lamps on !!



    Chris
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    First you need the larger 6 volt cables as the small cables wont carry the load for starting. If amp meter does not come up when engine speed increases the gen must not be charging.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    Okay, so first off, you need to get rid of the 12 volt cutoff switch and get the larger sized 6-volt cables.



    As to the second problem, I'm wondering....is your ground (earth) negative, or positive? Mine is positive ground, but I don't know what the '28 Essex had. (Geoff will step in and set things to rights!) Possibly this might explain your amp meter's behavior.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Its a 1926 Essex not a '29, Ooops.



    Jon, the Earth is negative



    Billy, the AMP meter does go up when the car revs.



    What size do the cables need to be for the 6 volt battery?
  • ernie28
    ernie28 Expert Adviser
    Negative earth is corrrect and this is shown by the ammeter movement.

    I had a similar problem with cable size. I removed the old one and took it to an auto electrician. Once I explained the issue he knew instantly the cables to replace them with. Possibly they were for a diesel vehicle? Did not care as they fitted the bill perfectly.

    Good luck

    Alistair
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I don't know the exact gauge. Surely there must be some antique auto suppliers in the U.K. They will know the correct gauge for a six volt system. You may even find that some of the larger "modern" automotive battery or electrical suppliers still carry the correct cables for 6-volt. Ask your fellow antique car owners where they shop. What you need is a 6-volt battery cable. These come in different lengths but I'm sure you can find something close and 'make do.' You might, for example, talk to someone with a more-popular make (like Ford) of your era, and ask where he gets his cables. They will be 6-volt as well, though the length may vary from yours. While you're at it, be sure to get the correct-gauge ground strap or straps.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    The rule of thumb for 6 volt battery cables is the cable should be thicker than your thumb! Throw away that battery isolator switch as well. YOu may need to overhaul your starter, paying particular attention to the condition of the rear armature bushing. You can test this by grasping the Bendix assembly and seeing how much up-and down play you can detect. These starters are only a two-pole unit, and I would recommend that you find a later 1929 starter if that is at all possible. Not original I know, but they have much more grunt. Also run an earth cable from the chassis to the starter mounting bolt. Originally there was no cut-out on the generator, so a reasonable discharge showing on the ammeter at idle is normal. the circuit from the generator is through the ignition switch, although most of these were modified over the years by fitting a cut-put.

    Geoff.
  • essexcoupe3131
    essexcoupe3131 Senior Contributor
    you could always try a VW surplier restorer, wernt they 6 volt on the early models!
  • awca12a
    awca12a Senior Contributor
    I have a 1929 and was reading old posts because I just found out that the positive terminal from my battery goes to the post on the starter bolt and the negative terminal goes to the starter switch. The car runs but only for 1min. I've only had the car 1-month and am trying to figure it out.



    Is this what you call positive earth? Is this correct for the 1929? Why would it run this way?

    Thanks.
  • Jon B
    Jon B Administrator
    I am unsure whether the 1929 was a positive or negative ground (or "earth" in the British Commonwealth countries). It would appear that yours is now a positive ground, because the positive post of the battery is "grounded" on your starter's mounting bolt.



    I wasn't aware that any Hudson "grounded" on a starter mounting bolt, but I suppose such could be the case. I have a Hudson of the late thirties, and by that time the ground strap went to a bolt on the frame, and there was an additional ground strap from the transmission to the frame (thus guaranteeing a ground to both body and engine).



    As to the question of why your car runs for only one minute, the answer could be many things. We'll have to get some more 'hints' before attempting suggestions. Geoff Clark, however, is undoubtedly the smartest of us when it comes to 1920's cars, so let's let him venture a solution!



    By the way, your inquiry might rate its own "thread", rather than being "piggy-backed" on the other fellow's question. At any rate, it will be easier to follow your thread, if it's off on its own...
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

In this Discussion