Elec question from a beginner

C

Cdaniel

New member
Hi all, I've got a '31 Victoria that I'm just starting to tear into. Hasn't run in 25 years. I got fresh oil in it and put in a new 6v battery, positive ground. But I get no power, to anything including the starter. I'm new to this and uneducated so any advice would be more than appreciated. Is it possible that the polarity should be switched?

Thanks!
Dan
 
The negative whould go to starter switch and positive to ground from what I have seen. Getting ready to bench test one now.
 
Just do a trace of the primary wiring -- be sure the ground cable is really grounded. Also verify that someone has not installed a battery disconnect switch. Polarity is not your issue.
Ray Rice
 
Make sure all the cables are clean and that the frame is clean where the
ground is bolted.

Bob
 
Buy an inexpensive volt/ammeter from an electronics store. Get an analog one as you may need it later, digitals may give you problems with the voltage fluctuations you will encounter on a Model A. Start by testing, do you get 6 volts across the battery terminals? Get a wiring diagram and keep going until you find the problem. Your positive ground assumption is correct. Drop by my house in Los Angeles and you can borrow mine until you solve your problem and I will show you how to use it. I might even make a house call if you are close enough. My offer is probably not worth much to you if you live in Florida. By the way, why don't you put your general location in your post as well as your profile and you might get an offer from someone that lives closer. Your problem should be easy to locate.

Charlie Stephens
 
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Since this is new to you, did you know the starter works by pushing down on the button on the floor near the steering column? The key does not start the starter when turned to the right like a modern car.
 
My advice: buy some good Model A books and read them before you go any further. Don't "tear into it" until you know the proper procedures. Drive it a while so you understand what you've got. Join a local club and get help from people who know how to work on these cars; they are unique unto themselves. Go slowly for a more harmonious outcome.

For even better service here, put your location under your avatar.
 
First of all, have you tried the starter? It may help to pull the starter and find out if it works. I discovered something just today about A starters. There is a collar on the bendix drive that had screwed itself backward and was binding against the bearing. 12 V wouldn't even budge it. I thought the starter was jammed into the flywheel somehow. I had even jacked up a wheel and put it in gear and tried rocking the wheel to free it. I removed it and freed it up, replaced it and it started. Yet at the time, you would have thought the three year battery in my 2013 truck was dead. Since your car hasn't been started in 25 years, there may be 20 years of rust locking it up. Good Luck!
Terry
 
Buy a good test light or (better yet AND) analog multimeter, then probe the two battery posts to be sure you have good voltage at the starting points, then move down the line until you find where the voltage drops off. If you have voltage at the starter switch, but it drops to zero when you push the switch, then the battery is bad, or you have a very poor connection between the starter and battery posts.
 
Dan,

It might be a good idea to include your location in your profile. One of these Fordbarn members could live right around the corner from you. I have met a bunch of local guys on here and we help each other out all the time.

Ken
 
Terry said:
First of all, have you tried the starter? It may help to pull the starter and find out if it works. I discovered something just today about A starters. There is a collar on the bendix drive that had screwed itself backward and was binding against the bearing. 12 V wouldn't even budge it. I thought the starter was jammed into the flywheel somehow. I had even jacked up a wheel and put it in gear and tried rocking the wheel to free it. I removed it and freed it up, replaced it and it started. Yet at the time, you would have thought the three year battery in my 2013 truck was dead. Since your car hasn't been started in 25 years, there may be 20 years of rust locking it up. Good Luck!
Terry
Click to expand...
Dan,

Don't pull the starter. If you are not getting power to anything that is not an indication of a starter problem. You should be getting power to the cable that attaches to the top of the starter even if the starter has a problem. I would attack the problem in the following order:
1) Put your general location in your profile
2) Get an analog multimeter from a radio shop (https://www.radioshack.com, search for "analog multimeter") and start checking for voltages. If you have any friends into electronics they probably have one they would give you. Buy an inexpensive one, you won't need a lot of accuracy for what you are doing. You should also be able to use a "continuity tester" (even cheaper at $3.99 but ask if it works on 6 volts, https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/652784/00314) for the immediate problem. Don't buy an expensive one, you are just working with 6 volts. Sort off a probe with two wires coming out, one with a clip that goes to ground and the other to the pointer at the end of the probe. Should be less than $10. Cheaper yet would be to solder a couple of wires to the base of a 6 volt bulb and use that to check for power.

Charlie Stephens
 
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Thanks so much and I would absolutely take you up on your offer but I live in New Hampshire! I have updated my profile..
 
Well, you are fur piece from your nearest MAFCA chapter, which is in Dunbarton. There might be a MARC Chapter closer, and there are some other guys here from NH. They'll probably step up.
 
If you've measured 6V at the starter switch but the starter is not working, my guess is either a bad ground or weak/weakened battery.

And remember, voltage is akin to a difference in water pressure measure from two points. Where current (amps) I akin to the amount of water flowing... A common electrostatics spark from a sweater is 20,000-50,000 volt is has tiny amount of current behind it.
 
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I had a similar problem with my Tudor upon receiving it off the carrier trailer. Come to find out, there was a critter hiding in the starter switch assembly. Try taking the wires off the starter, clip the finger off a rubber glove and tie it around the battery lead and remove the starter switch and clean up the internal guts.

Ya never know, may jest fix it.
 
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