Starter button

V4F

V4F

Well-known member
im trying to hook up a starter button to my "A" . do you tap the copper post coming out of the starter (where the foot switch used to hit) for your hot cable ? ............ thank you for any help .................... steve
 
yes, the battery cable that comes from the negetive goes and is bolted under the first nut, Don't forget the hot wire comming from the terminal box, or you the engine will not start
John
 
I'm also interested in doing the same on my Dads '31 he bought a couple of weeks ago. Any chance you have a photo of the parts and how you assembled it? I talked to a local starter/generator rebuilder and they wanted $150 to tear it apart and replace the big contact with a stud in the starter. :eek:

Heres a couple photos of the car in case anyone cares:

Grundy1.jpg


Grundy5.jpg
 
Actually, I think a longer term answer is to use a starter relay. Cheap and easy. You can see the setup on most any 56/60's Fords
 
Ford V8 dealers...I know Bob Drake does...have a stud and insulator kit that I think will work. Ford used one in most B starters...I don't think there would be anything greatly difficult or expensive in just buying the stud kit and putting it in. This would be much more secure than improvisations on original piece.
I'd use a '37-48 solenoid and grounding button...the solenoid just goes into the cable line leading to starter and the grounding button is s single wire from 'noid to button only, no other connections needed.
There are many ways of doing this but that would be cheap and easy.
 
I just got off the phone with a CSR from Bob Drake and he said they dont carry anything like that. I'll give Snyder's a shot.
 
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Here's an easy way to do it. I figured this out on my first Model A when I was 15, about a hundred years ago.

Take the starter switch apart, turn the copper contact strip upside down and re-assemble it to the starter. That provides a constant contact with the "button". Then you have to use a solenoid like Steve Preston suggested.

For me, this was a lot easier and cheaper than modifying the starter with a stud (although I know the parts are available) plus the fact that if you hide the solenoid, it looks original.
 
Not very pretty, and not original, but I just gutted the old switch, re installed the post and drilled two new mounting holes so the post lined up with the button on the starter housing when swapping the ends. I am using a FoMoCo solenoid that I had laying around and didn't want to mess around with the button or the starter.

CarlG beat me to a better solution but the guts of my switch were toast so I went for the cheap and easy route
 
I did similar to Carl. I took the switch apart cut a short piece of heater hose and put it between the top
of the contact strip and the switch cover so it put pressure on the contact all the time.
Bob Drake has the stud, number 18-11102-R or 18-11102-O depending or round or oval.

Bob
 
I actually have an ancient commercial kit for this job with an interesting design...it has a bracket to mount in place of stock A switch and a contact that bears against the stock copper lump, and it affixes a V8 type solenoid right there. If doing this job I would still prefer to convert to a threaded stud. The '37-48 parts give about the simplest wiring work conceivable.
 
James Rogers said:
Do it like Carl and Bob.Quick, easy and reversible in minutes if the solenoid kraps out.
Click to expand...

I agree and was going to suggest the same thing, if you want to use a solenoid.

Why not just use an upstart lever that many of the dealers sell. Easy to reach and a quick, easy, clean installation.
 
James Rogers said:
Do it like Carl and Bob.Quick, easy and reversible in minutes if the solenoid kraps out.
Click to expand...

That sounds like the easiest and best solution, I'll run it by Dad and see what he wants to do.

Tom Wesenberg said:
I agree and was going to suggest the same thing, if you want to use a solenoid.

Why not just use an upstart lever that many of the dealers sell. Easy to reach and a quick, easy, clean installation.
Click to expand...

I'm not even sure what that part is, do you have a link to one so I can check it out?
 
Bruce Lancaster said:
I actually have an ancient commercial kit for this job with an interesting design...it has a bracket to mount in place of stock A switch and a contact that bears against the stock copper lump, and it affixes a V8 type solenoid right there. If doing this job I would still prefer to convert to a threaded stud. The '37-48 parts give about the simplest wiring work conceivable.
Click to expand...

Any chance you have a picture of that kit Bruce? Did you get the catalog yet?
 
I also went to the starter re-builders and got a quote of $125 to do the post thing for my Fordor. I got upset about the price, and took 2 of his business cards off the desk and said I would get back to him. When I got home, I folded up the cards, and inserted them in the switch to hold the contact down. Works like a charm! Can be easily reversed and it felt good to use his cards in an appropriate way. Justice in a way.....
 
Muttley said:
That sounds like the easiest and best solution, I'll run it by Dad and see what he wants to do.



I'm not even sure what that part is, do you have a link to one so I can check it out?
Click to expand...

I don't see it listed in Bert's or Bratton's latest catalogs. Maybe Mac's has it, otherwise give Bert's a call at 800-321-1931.
 
Snyders lists the up start part that Tom is talking about on page A-144 of the new 2012 catalog. Part number A-11470-F it lists for $72.95 . I have a used starter with a post like you speak of on the shelf that bench tests that I would sell for less. If interested, pm me and I will recheck tomorrow. I think that it would fit in a priority mail box, I would need to check.
 
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I don't have the Snyder's catalog handy, but on page 100 in Mac's is a different starter accessory than what I had in mind. This one works off the spark lever and sells for $53.
 
I think were just going to go the flipped contact/solenoid route. I'm in the process of doing a complete wiring harness on the car which will be done as soon as Sacramento Vintage Ford delivers the rest of the parts. I'll report back with the results when I'm finished.
 
Guess I have had to much sun lately...just what is wrong with the original way of starting the Model A?

Pros...Cons...????

Pluck
 
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