starter solenoid

You may have the #4 circuit where the I terminal needs to be grounded.

Bob
 

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When you turn the key you should hear a click from the starter relay, if not try a jumper wire from the battery side of the relay to the S terminal. If it clicks (and most likely turns the starter) with the jumper wire then the issue is the starter switch wiring. If it still does not work then it is probably defective.

Note: I would be carful grounding the I terminal unless you are sure that is the type of relay you have. To determine that you should use a volt meter and check out the relay and not just guess!
 
I have a 37 that was changed to 12 volt. It has a 2 wire push start button, do I just put the one wire to the switch
 
mine already has the ford type and a 2 wire switch , I got the this way, has a new wiring harness just not completely installed. the 2 wire switch has 2 terminals. I have just one starter button wire. Do I just use one terminal or do I need to do something else to wire it
 
You need to know how the solenoid is wired internally to determine how
to hook your wires up, look at the diagram in post 22.

Bob
 
I think "All things being equal, 6 volt components draw twice the amperage of 12 volt components. That means that contacts in switches and relays, commutators & brushes in starters and generators, and wiring and battery cables, must be capable of handling more current in 6 volt units than 12 volt units. So in this respect 6 volt parts ARE heavier duty."

Use stock Ford solenoid for your year ( Basically the same from '37 to the early '50's ) and you'll be fine.
 
I have no idea of what the coil resistance or amps needed is ,but adding a resistor like the one used on ignition coils should drop some volts to limit dissipation in the coil.
The contactpoints doesnt care about voltage they are designed for a limited amount of amps.
 
dont see a part #, it does have a sticker that says it replaces a 3 bolt solenoid, and not to use the I position, so it may be specific for a 12 volt conversion.
 

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I've got the same one as buzz882 shows and it's been working fine. Also had my'35 converted to 12V using my 6V starter for 3 seasons and works great. Starter motor very fast. Much faster than when it was 6V on the 6V starter.
 
my starter switch has 2 wires, I think I need to run 12v to one terminal and my starter button to the other? Is that right?
 
buzz882 said:
my starter switch has 2 wires, I think I need to run 12v to one terminal and my starter button to the other? Is that right?
Click to expand...

Most likely, the original solenoid used a ground wire to the terminal and the starter button just provided a ground. MOST of the later 12v solenoids require a 12v connection to the "S" terminal (the "I" terminal is for a direct connection to the coil, by-passing the resistor during starting). So, you need a two terminal push button with this type of solenoid, one terminal to a 12v source and the other terminal connected to "S" on the solenoid.
 
Allright, i have to admit beeing too dumb understanding this. To my excuse i have to say that iam totally new to this build and do not have anybody around that could assist in this matter and actually understands what iam trying to do.

I am trying to figure out what make and type of solenoid i need for my build:
- 34 Ford changing to 12 V System
- original steering column ignition switch
- removing the footstarter switch and changing to a vintage original Ford single prong starter button on the dash.

I am trying to find a 12V starter solenoid with steel casing, looking like the early original Ford 6V steel casing solenoid. No Plastic, no Bakelite.
I am not able to find any 12V steel case solenoid with any of the parts suppliers, they are all either 6V steel case or 12V plastic case.

I have been looking at Cole Hersee for quite some time and they offer 12V steel casing solenoids with 3 or 4 terminals, which i would consider using. But which one ?
I believe it needs to be intermittent, with insulated base ( grounded through pressing the starter button ) but do i need a 3 or 4 terminal one ?

I tried to find the Cole Hersee solenoid as mentioned by JOHN of ILLONOIS
http://www.colehersee.com/home/search/?search_key=24060

but that does not seem to be available anymore. It is a 3 terminal steel case solenoid, but does that match my original single prong starter button.
Besides there are 12V 3 terminal steel case solenoids available on e-bay by Filco or Delco Remy but i would not know if those are adequate for my application.

Id be grateful for anybody that could shed some light into this matter and could help ?
 
You need the three terminal one. The two large terminals are power from the battery and power to the starter. The third (smaller) terminal is what triggers the coil to connect the two large terminals.

If you want it to work like the original solenoids, the third terminal is connected internally to the power IN terminal. The third terminal is a ground and is wired to the starter button. When you press the starter button you are providing a ground to the coil inside the solenoid.

The 4 terminal solenoids have the two large terminals and two smaller terminals. In this case, one of them (S) connects to a 12v + source. The other terminal (I) is to supply 12V to the ignition coil while cranking the starter bypassing the ballast resistor.
 

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