Starting Problem

[wlivesey]

I have a 1960 BT7. Battery is fully charged. I have cleaned all of the connections (except the starter button - I will get to it)and cleaned up the starter from all the crap inside - brushes seemed OK. Occasionally, the car just won't crank - the starter will "grown" and then do nothing. It can happen any time, first thing in the morning or after its warmed up. Most times I just keep pusing the starter button until it eventually scranks and starts. I have heard the starter can have a "flat spot" but I don't really eaxactly know what that means. Any suggestions or ideas?
Bill L

 

[Dave Russell]

Bill,
I don't know yet.
What happens if you have the headlights on during the time you try to start it. If the lights dim when it fails it means something different than if they don't dim. Give it a try & see which is happening.
D

 

[RF Thom]

Sound like VD [Voltage Drop] to me. Go buy a stout #4 wire and run it from the terminal in the trunk where the ground strap attaches to the shut off switch, then run the wire under the car and attach the other end under one of the starter securing bolts. This makes a secure path for the amperage to flow not only to the starter but also back to the battery. In cold climates when cranking the engine over, which is usually slowly due to oil viscosity, some times the resistance of the body-ground is so high that the terminal voltage is not high enough to fire the coil - thus no spark. This added ground make a marked difference.

Regards, Bob

 

[wlivesey]

Thanks alot for the advise, guys. As you might expect, the last couple of days the car has started right up. I am driving up to the British Invasion in Stowe Vermont this weekend. I think its about a 3-4 hr drive. It will probably happen since it seems to happen more often after a long drive. I will let you all know when I get back. Thanks again for the advice
Bill

 

[Pete Haburt]

My 61 BT7 does this as well. I dissassembled the battery switch and cleaned it, and for while it was better. It is doing this again occasionally. I suspect the starter solenoid, as I had these exact same symptoms in by boat, and it turned out to be one (of two) solenoids. I think I still have the original solenoid in it.
Pete H