boosting with 12v

coolcoupe

Well-known member
Still have not got my 47 started yet! Is there a way to hook up a 12v battery to give me more starting power without harming the 6v system?
I'm noticing some oil coming from the vaccum hole in the back the distributor when I pulled it off to check it, any reason for this? Thanks Coolcoupe
 
Assuming you have a 6V battery good enuff to produce a hot spark, jump the 12V battery straight to the starter motor. I hook one jumper cable from the 12V battery to the frame, and use the end of the clamp on the other cable as the switch. I also put and old nut on the starter cable terminal (either end) to absorb the burn marks (there will some). Believe it or not, the polarity of the 12 volt battery won’t matter. If it doesn’t start don’t keep cranking. A 6V starter on 12V will get hot in hurry.
Dave(Smith)
 
Hi Dave,So I do not use the 6v battery at all right? Do I turn the ignition switch to the on position? Thanks Coolcoupe
 
Yes, you want the ignition on (but not start) so the 6 volt battery is powering the ignition system. The first thing you should check as the engine is spinning with the 12 volt jump, is that the spark plug leads are throwing out nice fat spark. You can kind of run out of hands trying to hold a spark plug lead and a jumper cable at the same time. I use an old neon timing light, but I have also used clothes pins to hold a lead in a position where I could see the spark. People here will argue; but I like to see a very visible spark at quarter of an inch. If you don’t get a spark, or it is weak; you have now found the first thing to go fix.
Good Luck,
Dave(Smith)
 
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