Posted by DDD [172.68.35.11] on Friday, November 25, 2016 at 08:27:11 :
OMG. either I am starting to loose it mentally, or the mechanical Gods these days seem to be having fun with me.
My current problem: I cant get the starter to turn over.
Now what the heck. its a simple circuit:
one hot wire from the battery directly to the foot starter soleniod. One ground wire from the transmission bolt hole to the battery ground post, thats it!!! (RIGHT??)
NOTE: dont have, and never had, a ground from engine block to chassis.. at least not a dedicated ground strap.. it makes ground thru any numbet of places (mounts, alternator ground strap, etc)
Now before I go one, Ill tell ya this. The truck was ALWAYS an easy start, having a rebuilt (at one time 6 volt starter) My truck is running a 12 volt system. so when I hit that foot starter, she would spin fast and start quickly.
My troubles began unexpectantly. the previuos day,an easy start. several times in fact. never an issue.
this day, oh about a week ago, I stomp on the starter pedal push rod. NOTHING.
I checked all the obvious.
Battery at full charge = 12.5 v
I checked and cleaned all the connections.
still nothing.
I figured the started went bad somehow
Pulled said starter. took to starter rebuild guy and watched him clamp in his vise and put power to the foot starter solenoid, and then press the foot starter lever by hand. whola.. fast spin. like i see in the truck..he verified its a recent rebuild, and is in full operational condition.
hummm.
back home. starter back in truck. all connections back... NOTHING!!!
WTH?
I re-cleaned all connections, checked the solenoid that the foot starter rod was making FULL contact, it appears to be so.
I even changed out the solenoid to another I had, both looked new inside. Nothing.
I even went so far into the dark side of thinking my motor was locked up.. went underneath and using a screw driver on the flywheel gear turned the motor easily
I am at a loss.
Another note as to what I seen.
the ground cable got pretty warm there for a minute, AND I had the smell of sulpher when trying to make the starter spin. battery cells, or side of bettery near ground post, was warm to touch. does this indicate something to any of you like ground connection still bad or something?
So here are my next steps this morning when it gets light:
try moving the ground connection from the transmission tower bolt to the engine block instead..
does anyone here there is a possibliltiy this could be a potential issue? I should be grounded at the block?
(where is your battery ground connected too?)
Maybe there is dirt, rust, corrosion between the starter motor and bellhousing, maybe paint???? causing a less than effective ground condition?
Or is it even a ground situation?
again foot activated solenoid was a suspect, but it appears to making full contact on activation. (1/2 ton military does NOT have a adjustable foot starter rod.. it is what it is)
honestly ,this is embarrassing being so simple of a circuit I cannot diagnose!!!
Ill take any suggestions where to look next.. I am about to tow this to a mechanic and let him decipher. I think i lost all mechanical sense in the last few years :(
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