New Battery, No Power/Lights/Starter

When I pulled the negative cable I found a surprise. I think it is safe to say that this was the source of the electrical problem I was having. I have owned the car for 4 days. It looks like that has been there for quite sometime! It was on the underneath side of the cable pressing against the battery.
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What did you find?
 
The starter switch has a cross shaped plastic link that insulates the start pedal shaft from the switch contact components. They can break and not allow the switch to work. Check that before checking the starter. If you don't have a starting hand crank, get one from a model A supply source. If you can hand crank the engine, there is no stuck bendix. Also find a model A owner's instruction manual on line somewhere if you don't have a wiring diagram. The model A electrical system is about as simple as they come.
 
Good job chasing that frustrating rabbit.
I have been known to paint things and they looked great but I had to go back and do as you did and scrape away some of that pretty paint to restore a connection.
Thanks for the update, it will help many. Chap
 
I've seen folks drive screws between the battery post and cable clamp but that's the first one I've seen driven between the clamp and it's conductor cable. It's way past time for a new cable assembly. Just make sure the new one is a minimum of 2 gage or larger. 6-volt systems need the lowest resistane cable you can get. Modern 12-volt parts aren't adequate for 6-volts.
 
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