Starting problem (6 volt)

[Enigma]

My WC 21 has a 6 volt system.

The problem is it turns over sloooowly when starting, 1 rev. per push on the starter. :evil:

Sometimes a few revs and that's it.

If possible I use someone to press the starter (my 6 years old nephew or brother) and apply I the handcrank which works. :roll:

On my own the handcrank is to heavy (compression) to get a few revs after each other.

My battery is 120 AH.

 

Could the problem be the battery or maybe somewhere a electrical resistance?

I haven't got a clue about electricity ( today I got zapped by 220 volt when connecting a wire from a lightbulb...). :oops:

 

Any ideas, advise or such? :idea:

 

I am thinking about installing 12 volt but don't know what to replace and it will probably cost a fortune which isn't a real option sinse I am unemployed.

 

Thanks!!

[Nick Bombini]

I'm no expert but two ideas I had are:

 

1) The battery may be low, my battery turns very slowly if the battery is low.

 

2) The battery may not have enoughcold cranking amps.

 

That's about all I know about it, maybe someone can expain how much cold cranking amps you need in the battery for your purposes.

[Degsy]

Get the battery tested, clean and tighten all connections especially earth's,if all these are OK then remove the starter and have it checked at an auto elec workshop. I haven't converted a Dodge to 12v but it should be very similar to the GMC and that was simple and cheap to do using a

2nd hand alternator. I am sure somebody on here will have done the conversion and should be able to advise you.

[commander]

I know this may sound daft but check your oil

to much oil or to thick a grade will cause drag

on the fly wheels , on mine the brushes were worn

down and needed replacing also the contact switch

on top of the starter sometimes needs cleaning the

hardest thing on this is getting the starter off it's a bit

of a bugger unless your a skinny guy or gal

C

[Chris Aldous]

As Degsy mentioned...double check your earths...not only they are clean but they are all there.

 

6 volts do turn over very slow...although yours does sound a bit too slow

 

It is always worth pushing down the clutch...there can be a bit of drag picked up here as well

 

cheers

 

Chris

[Enigma]

I know this may sound daft but check your oil

to much oil or to thick a grade will cause drag

on the fly wheels , on mine the brushes were worn

down and needed replacing also the contact switch

on top of the starter sometimes needs cleaning the

hardest thing on this is getting the starter off it's a bit

of a bugger unless your a skinny guy or gal

C

 

Hmmm, oil on starter,that may be a good point, it is oily I think.

In this case I am lucky because I am a skinny guy!

 

To Chris

I always depress the clutch, kinda double safe even when I am in neutral.

 

Guess I'll have to do some checking.

Thanks.

[Enigma]

I went for a drive just yet.

I did see the ampere meter reading 15+ while driving.

Guess that means the battery is charging?

[Mark]

I went for a drive just yet.

I did see the ampere meter reading 15+ while driving.

Guess that means the battery is charging?

 

 

It may be charging, but is it holding the charge :wink:

[Enigma]

Hmmmm, good question...

[ashley]

H enigma try this link.

 

Ashley

 

 

http://www.hmvf.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=116.0

[commander]

Have just sorted a problem on a jimmy 6 volt with slow turning over

and bad starting checked all the obvious things i.e. charged battery

then put it on a load tester ok, checked starter ok, checked wiring ok,

it was only after we had been on it half a day and decied to give it up

till the next day and the owner was messing around in the cab under

the seat and I asked him what he was doing and he replied just turning

the isolater off I had fiited a couple of weeks ago for security reasons

a quick disconection of same the 2 wires bolted together and insulated

and it through in straight away and fired up 6 volts don't like isolators

does your Dodge have one fitted

C

[Enigma]

No isolators on my Dodge, direct lines..

[Pete Ashby]

My WC 21 has a 6 volt system.

The problem is it turns over sloooowly when starting, 1 rev. per push on the starter. :evil:

Sometimes a few revs and that's it

 

A few observations, for you to consider. The condition may be due to a number of individual or interconnected problems these are in no order so do the easy stuff first.

The starter commutator could be damaged and need facing up,

The mica segments may need undercutting

The starter dog nose shaft could be bent.

The starter switch contacts on top of the motor could be burnt and arcing this will cause heat and a high resistance after a couple of seconds

The starter motor bearings could be worn, you can check this by looking for 'striking' of the armature against the pole pieces in extreme cases,

The brushes could be sticking in the carries or worn down,

The starter earth needs to be really good on all 6v systems, run a jump lead from the starter motor body direct to the battery neg terminal and see if the cranking speed improves, keep it well away from the pos terminal on the starter or you’ll have fireworks !!

Check the starter motor is mounted in line and the mounting bolts are tight on the bellhousing

Check the battery terminals are in good condition and your cables are making good contact

Check your main starter leads are in good condition at both ends

Leave the ignition off and all ancillary items switched off, disconnect your battery and jump a good 12 volt one onto your leads, stamp on the crank pedal there should be a marked improvement on cranking speed, if not some or all of the above may be the problem.

A few more thoughts but this is getting into the scary expensive zone other than the new engine bit.

Has your engine been rebuilt recently ? could be tight bearings and or rings

You may have a misaligned fly wheel starter ring gear

You may have a distorted fly wheel but this would be extreme

 

If possible I use someone to press the starter (my 6 years old nephew or brother) and apply I the handcrank which works. :roll

 

I would not advise this at all, this is a very good way to break your wrist I suggest you give this a miss from now on. 4l of engine and a steel starter crank can snap your wrist like a twig not good don’t go there.

 

My battery is 120 AH

 

This should be is ok,

 

Hope this may be of help, at one time or another I’ve come across all of those problems above, the big thing is don’t panic and go for the big problems it’s usually the just a bad earth

 

Pete

 

[Enigma]

Hi Pete

Thanks for the reply.

Looks like a lot to check!

 

About cranking, most of the time I haven't got a choice :-(

 

I already think the startermoter may be at fault.

Hope I'll get to the bottom of it.