Solution to slow cranking, poor starting

[richard rink]

In recent months the cranking rate in my 59L was getting slower and slower. At times, after shut-off, the starter motor couldn't generate more than engaging the Bendix drive. This happened despite a new battery, cleaning the ground strap connections, running a ground directly to the starter, having the starter rebuilt and making sure the alternator was charging. I was about out of ideas.

Well, come to find out, I had overlooked a simple part of the "puzzle." The cable from the solenoid to the starter was the problem all along. It looked okay, no corrosion at the connections nor frayed insulation, etc. But for whatever reason, over many years of service it had begun to fail. When I installed a new starter cable, the starter motor cranked like new. Problem solved.

We've seen many references to the need for attention to ground straps; I was overlooking the other half of the equation.

Richard

 

[Mike in AZ]

good catch and thanks for posting your problem and solution....did you try jumping the starter straight from the battery to check starter condition??...thanks again...Mike

 

[richard rink]

Mike, I wish I had......could have saved some time and money!

Richard

 

[4dFord/SC]

In addition to faulty cables and connections, another common cause of slow starting is the use of smaller 12v cables, instead of the correct 6v cables which are larger.

 

[Lawson Cox]

I installed a new wiring harness only to find out that the wire from the switch to the coil had no continuity. I ran a separate wire, bypassing the harness, and it has been working great since then.

 

[FlatheadTed]

Good investment is a set of heavy Jumper cables to use to check thing out .as Mike said .

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

And yet another thing to check...a solenoid with fried contacts can often pass enough electricity to crank feebly.

 

[Ralph Moore]

Sorry, about it being non-Ford, but I worked on a 31 Willys-Knight recently with the same issues of slow cranking.
I took the battery ground off the frame(which then went through the block, then starter) and ran a "heavy" ground cable directly to the starter and it solved the problem of slow cranking.