No Foot Starter

California Charlie

California Charlie

Senior Member
Has anyone installed a 6 volt 3 terminal solenoid on a Model A Starter Motor to eliminate the manual foot starter? Is there a diagram as to how this is done with wiring etc.

Thanks to all who respond to my question.
 
Here's one for Model T, probably works the same.
 

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I had the solenoid / key setup on a sedan when I purchased it. I had to reach through the steering wheel with my left hand to turn the key while I pulled the choke with my right. I quickly took it off and went back to original. It was much easier.
 
Ruth said:
YIKES!! That diagram in post #3 of the link above is WRONG. The second small terminal (if the solenoid has one, usually only seen on 12v solenoids) should go to the ignition coil, not GROUND. They are even usually marked with an "I", for ignition.
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Seems reasonable (the solenoid body itself is usually the ground), but why does it need a wire to the coil?
 
I'm making some up with Solenoid 240-01006 which has a button on it so if your under the hood you can just hit the button in the solenoid and not go to the inside of the car and hit the button. You can use the starter switch, but have to push the copper strip down with a bolt. I have it all worked out and working.
 
alexiskai said:
Seems reasonable (the solenoid body itself is usually the ground), but why does it need a wire to the coil?
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On 12v systems it will give a full 12v to the coil for starting, bypassing to ballast resister, which reduces the voltage to ~9v. Then when you release to starter switch, 9v is supplied to the coil as the full 12v is not needed once the engine starts.

6v solenoids do not have the second small terminal nor a ballast resistor.

If it was hooked up like the diagram in the link, you would definitely lose some smoke out of your wires.
 

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Last edited:
Ruth said:
YIKES!! That diagram in post #3 of the link above is WRONG. The second small terminal (if the solenoid has one, usually only seen on 12v solenoids) should go to the ignition coil, not GROUND. They are even usually marked with an "I", for ignition.
Click to expand...


Not necessarily, depends on how the solenoid is wired internally.
 

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Bob C said:
Not necessarily, depends on how the solenoid is wired internally.
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Sure solenoids are used in many applications. But I would have to say that 100% of the solenoids I have seen in automotive starter circuits are as I described.
 
I started doing the solenoid starter thing back in the late '50s on my '31 AA. I didn't have books, internet, or whatever, I just figured out how to do it myself.

That carried thru to today where I have a key start switch in my '31 pickup.
 
Happy Camper here.

Thanks to all who responded to my post. I was able to use the information to successfully install a 6 volt solenoid on my Model A Ford Starter Motor.

It works perfectly!

Thanks again!
 

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Thankyou all for that information. I really don’t wish to modernise my A but I’m not pedantic about it either. It’s just I continually get my shoe caught between the clutch and hand break, (my A’s are right hand drive). Where have you all placed the starter button or have you gone for an ignition/starter key?
 
woofa.express said:
Thankyou all for that information. I really don’t wish to modernise my A but I’m not pedantic about it either. It’s just I continually get my shoe caught between the clutch and hand break, (my A’s are right hand drive). Where have you all placed the starter button or have you gone for an ignition/starter key?
Click to expand...

CarlG said:
... I have a key start switch in my '31 pickup.
Click to expand...
....
 
Guys, the foot starter switch is part of the whole Model A experience. It keeps all others guessing what the driver is doing leaning back and stretching out while the motor starts. It is one of the the only cars left on the road where your foot is turning on a 50 amp current to start the engine. I also own 1914 Model T and I can assure you that when that starter switch first appeared, it put smiles on the faces of a lot of people, especially in the winter time!! Ed
 
Ed in Maine said:
Guys, the foot starter switch is part of the whole Model A experience. It keeps all others guessing what the driver is doing leaning back and stretching out while the motor starts. It is one of the the only cars left on the road where your foot is turning on a 50 amp current to start the engine. I also own 1914 Model T and I can assure you that when that starter switch first appeared, it put smiles on the faces of a lot of people, especially in the winter time!! Ed
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Hi Ed. I wouldn't change mine but for the fact I continually get my foot caught between the handbrake and clutch. I would suspect the LHD cars have considerably more room on the floor and confinement is not a problem.
 
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