Maybe starter problems?

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I am new to the model A. I have never owned one. To try to make this a short as possible, I will try. Bought a ‘31 Tudor a couple weeks ago. Been sitting for 45 years. The engine was free. After a new battery, cleaned the plugs, shot a little oil in the cylinders, filled the radiator, cleaned the carb, I was ready to try to start. After it rolled over a dozen times, it fired. Wow! I was thrilled. After a couple mor3 tries , I had her up and running. I ran it for about 10 to 15 minutes. It was running the best with the lever fully advanced. Shut her off, and I thought that was incredible! After a couple days, I returned to her thinking maybe I should check the timing. Watched 3 or 4 tube vids to see what I had to do. It looked simple enough, so I did what they said. What I did not realize at first was that the distributor was missing some Bakelite from the bottom and it wasn’t holding it in place. The engine backfired once, and before I had noticed the pieces missing on the distributor, she would not start. I tried to start again, and when I hit the starter, I got nothing. Need to know why the starter will not engage. I get 6.2 volts from the battery and down on the starter, but does nothing.
 
Is the starter turning over and not engaging the flywheel? I think that I what I get from your post. If so, you have a broken Bendix drive. Take the starter out and see what is broken and replace as needed. You will need new locking tabs.



If the starter is not turning over the probable cause are the brushes in the starter motor. Take it apart and clean up the brushes and their holders. Make sure they are making good contact with the comutator.
 
If the starter is turning over and not turning the engine another possibility is that the ring gear on the flywheel is missing some teeth. Turn the engine over a few degrees with the crank or put the car in high gear and push the car a few inches to turn the engine a little. Then try the starter again.
 
If the starter is not turning, make sure the commutator is bright and shinny when you clean up the brushes. You can use some solvent and abrasive pad to clean the commutator. If needed sand it clean with some 400 grit sandpaper.
 
The starter does nothing. I just got the starter back from a local guy that repairs starters, generators, alternators, etc. This guy knows what he is doing. He said he went through the whole starter. I’m leaning toward something else is wrong, but I’m drawing a blank. I can roll over the motor with no problems.
 
If the starter makes no sound at all, meaning it doesn't turn, and after being bench tested, your starter switch would be my next step. Make sure the contacts are clean and can close. If still no joy, take a big jumper cable when the switch is off the starter and connect the negative post of the battery (assuming you are positive ground) to the copper disc on the top of the starter briefly. If you get a crank, it has to be the switch. If you get a whir and no engine turning over, your starter bendix drive is not engaging. If you get silence, check the grounding path.

Let's see a photo of this 45 year in storage Tudor!
 
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The starter draws a lot of current. Even if you are measuring 6 volts at the starter at rest under no load, you might check your connections at both battery connections.
 
If you can hear nothing when you hit the starter switch, your starter Bendix could be stuck in the flywheel. Try turning the engine over by hand with a crank. This will disengage a stuck starter. If still stuck, undo the three cap bolts holding the starter to the flywheel housing and wiggle the starter. I have had success with that in the past.
 
You might check grounding cables to the frame if you haven't already


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Mike Peters said:
If you can hear nothing when you hit the starter switch, your starter Bendix could be stuck in the flywheel. Try turning the engine over by hand with a crank. This will disengage a stuck starter. If still stuck, undo the three cap bolts holding the starter to the flywheel housing and wiggle the starter. I have had success with that in the past.
Click to expand...

Good advice from Mike... Another method for unsticking the bendix from the flywheel is to put the car into 3rd gear and rock the car back and forth until the bendix snaps back....
 
Thank you gentlemen for all your advice. Turned out it was the ground. I did have it on the battery box bolt. It wasn’t getting the grounding it needed. Ended up bolting it to the bell housing. Starts up great!! Thanks again!
 
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