Tried to start the Whitephrog for the first time

[Whitephrog]

Thought I had everything wired properly and connected well. Pulled the starter switch... nothing happened. Pulled the starter switch cable by hand...nothing happened. The starter switch is new. Wondered if I had a problem with the starter although it worked perfectly the last time it was used five years ago. I decided to connect a cable from the battery to the starter side of the starter switch. Sparks flew everywhere but the starter didn't budge.

What have I likely done wrong?

 

[spritenut]

You most likely twisted the stem inside the starter when you tightened up the nut for the wire.
There is a back up nut that MUST be held still when you tighten or loosen the nut for the wire. You can very easily twist that lug off inside the starter.
Or the starter is just jammed up, try turning the back end of the armature with a wrench or put the car in 4th gear and rock it (brake off)

 

[drooartz]

Also, make sure the cable from the starter to the switch is not touching the starter body at all. I've ad trouble with the Tunebug grounding out in this area.

 

[JPSmit]

trace the wiring, likely something simple, particularly if pulling the cable did nothing. You should be able to take a jumper cable and run it to the starter directly, that should eliminate the starter.

 

[Whitephrog]

Frank

You may be on to something. The starter stem is a bit loose. More investigate on that tomorrow.

 

[Whitephrog]

Frank was dead on. The starter that I'm using is a 25079H produced in August 1966. My earlier starter 250022 produced January 1959 had an internal post that the external termainl post connected to.

https://tinyurl.com/25022-starter-internal-post

https://tinyurl.com/25022-external-terminal-post

In the 25079 starter, rather than connecting to an internal post, the external terminal post in connected directly to the wiring (a design flaw in my opinion). During the starter installation and cable hook up I apparently twisted the terminal post and broke the connection with the wiring.

https://tinyurl.com/25079-starter

Off to the repair shop tomorrow. I have a new armature, bush set and brush set for the 25022 starter. Think I'll have him rebuild that one as well.