Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Bad starter?

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: Bad starter? -- page: 1 2 3

hotroddoc

05-04-2025 @ 3:05 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 40
Joined: Mar 2019

Hello,

I am almost complete in converting my 36 coupe from 6-12volts. When I try to start the engine, the starter shorts.

When I use my voltmeter as a continuity tester, the starter housing tests positive for ground AND the lug ( without the starter cable connected) also tests positive for ground..

Is the starter bad? Did I do something wrong?

I welcome your comments.

Thanks,
Gary

This message was edited by hotroddoc on 5-4-25 @ 3:22 PM

carcrazy

05-04-2025 @ 4:32 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1976
Joined: Oct 2009

Your starter must have an internal short. Take it off of the engine and take it apart to see what is causing the short. It could be something simple like an insulating washer between the starter terminal and the starter case broken or missing.

hotroddoc

05-04-2025 @ 5:59 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 40
Joined: Mar 2019

Thank you. I’ll look into that

JayChicago

05-05-2025 @ 3:02 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 555
Joined: Jan 2016

Wouldn’t even good motor, no short, show continuity thru the motor with a continuity tester?

DanD32

05-06-2025 @ 4:56 AM

reply profile send p.m.

New Member
Posts: 103
Joined: Oct 2017

Yes

hotroddoc

05-06-2025 @ 7:32 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 40
Joined: Mar 2019

How can that be? Isn't the lug insulated from the housing?

40 Coupe

05-07-2025 @ 4:30 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1800
Joined: Oct 2009

What your seeing is correct for a good starter. the ground voltage will pass through the windings and appear at the stud. If the windings were open circuit there would be no voltage at the stud.

JayChicago

05-07-2025 @ 8:51 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 555
Joined: Jan 2016

The lug is insulated from the case but then is connected to the starter's internal components. There has to be an electrical continuity thru the motor to ground in order for the motor to function.

jerry_356

05-07-2025 @ 1:00 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 38
Joined: Feb 2024

To test a starter one method is to disassemble and use a growler to determine if the armature is defective or not. The field coils can be tested for continuity and resistance.

pauls39coupe

05-08-2025 @ 6:47 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Member
Posts: 247
Joined: Jul 2014

You may have a bad starter button. As I recall 1936 ford used a floor mounted switch which contains a big copper bar that jumps between the battery power wire (positive in your case) to the wire going to the starter.
Try disconnecting the wire from the starter, insulate it then hit the starter button. If you still get sparks that eliminates the starter as the problem. Look for a short in the wire going to the starter, possibly at the clamp that holds it to the engine block or a bad switch.
Let us know what you find.
Paul

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2 3

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions