Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines In dire need of some starter help

I have about 10 days till paso robles. I have just got done swaping the tranny, motor, and rearend in my 54 chebby 210. I wanted to test the starter today befor I ptu the front clip back on only to find out it is dead. the gear pushes out and spins just fine when it is out of the motor with no load, but wont turn the motor over when installed. I figured I would do a second test by jumping it from a 12 volt car to see if it was just a weak 6 volt battery. It was so slow that I think a new starter is in order. Anyone have suggestions, and or a working 6 volt starter for my 235? I cant order a new one till I get paid, which is one day before paso. Any help would be great. The last thing I wanna have to do is push start the car every time i need to move at paso.

oh yeah THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPS!!!!!!!

What is the engine you swapped into the '54?

Dear Cabbie;

Is the battery grounded on the frame?? Should be on engine.

I don't think It's a flywheel/starter/ mechanical issue, (engine does turn) as CD is inqiring. Answer him anyway.

JM.....

What I should have asked was the original'54 235 swapped for another '54 or a later 235? Thought perhaps it was mistaken as a 6 volt system when it's a 12V and he needs a 12V starter. I agree with your suggestions JHM and also maybe consider something to do with trans to flywheel install since starter seems to work with no load.

CD;

The 55-62 235s (12V) also use a different flywheel to match that starter.

You can use a 6V starter with 12V but NOT with the 55-62 flywheel (different gears).

He stated the 'front clip' was off. I thought perhaps he had connected the battery to the frame which can cause it to turn slow (bad connection)etc.

We'll see.

JM.......

I put another 54 235 into it. The fly wheel is a 53 Hevy duty 11". I can see the gear going into the flywheel, so I know thw gears mesh fine. I was putting the ground to the starter case. Cant think of a any more direct connection. I tried to hook the starter up when it was out of the motor and it turned and shot out the gear just fine. I also jumped the starter, while attached to the motor, from a friends 12v truck. Even with 12 volts to the starter it would hardly turn the motor. I cut out the ignition switch and went straight to the starter on all the tests.

Thanks for the help,
Dan Nelson

Dear Dan;

You have done everything right so far.

Does/did the engine turn okay by hand or with a bar on flywheel/ft. pully?? If so Its in the starter.

Might be a broken brush spring or not installed (the brush/spring)properly.

JM.......

I havent chacked the brushes yet, but the motor turns by hand. I is pretty hard to turn, but I dont think it is anything more than a nice tight fresh motor.

Iguess the next question is, does anyone have a working starter they dont want?

Thanks for all the help,
Dan Nelson

C;

Did you prime the oil pump?? Try turning it with the plugs out after priming (if you didn't) with a 12V Batt.

An old 6V starter can be a pain. Easy to fix though. In the 50s I/we all had the same problem. I just rolled down the hill to start the 'tight/new ones' etc.

The brush springs get weak and don't hold the brush(s) especially the old ones tight against the comuntator.

It will spin good W/O plugs on 12V, you'll see.

JM.........

I had a similar problem on my 54 235 starter. The problem was the ground at the brushes had become poor. That caused a very small arc between the brush and the brush holder that held the brush from the commutator. Cleaned all that up and have continued using a 6v starter on 12v for more than 7 years.