6 volt starting issues )=

[joeceretti]

Don't give up yet. Here is my newly rebuilt motor with new, soldered cables. This was taken last night. Driving a 6v starter with a 12v battery is a bad idea. Yes, it works but will severely overdrive the starter. Before the rebuild my car was sometimes hard to start so I used a 12v battery just to turn the starter. I have to have that starter rebuilt now. Within a few months the extra power going into the windings fried it.

This is how it will start once you have everything right with 6v. This is also after the car has been sitting for more than 24 hours and NOT using an electric fuel pump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9e7oMVuDPg

[Jay Friedman]

Joe, it runs beautifully, but I wouldn't start it too often like that without coolant since the day will come when you'll want to run it for "just another few seconds", so won't shut if off soon enough and burn a valve or two on that nice rebuilt engine. 

[joeceretti]

Agreed Jay. Rad comes tomorrow.

[Brad Ipsen CLC #737]

Positive ground is right.  Turning this engine with the fan is very difficult.  You might try at the flywheel with a tool made just for that purpose.  That is the way to turn the engine for various purposes such as setting the initial timing. 

[joeceretti]

Brad is right. Turning the engine by hand at the fan SHOULD be difficult. There is a lot going on in there, especially with newly machined surfaces. I have to use a socket and large ratchet to turn the engine without killing myself or thinking I am going to bend the fan.

[Doug Houston]

That was a terrific Yo Tube demo. Yes, you should not be able to turn the engine by the fan, if it is either warmed up, or freshly rebuilt. You're working again st eight big compressors.

Now, what about the battery?  I it has a few years on it, there could be a weak cell in it, simply a dead cell.

My '38 60 Special has the grounding stud on it, and whips over like the one in that You Tube. The engine has had a valve job, about 1964. i bought the car in 1960, and drove it home from New York to Detroit. There had always been starting issues with it until I installed the grounding bolt a couple of years ago. 

None of us here can tell about starter rebulders. They work on modern starters all day, and when one from an old car comes in, the rebuild can consist of just a clean up, and a bill to the owner.

I know what a proper rebuild can consist of, but I shouldn't need to go into another diatribe here. All I can say is, if you don't know how to rebuild your starter know your rebuilder. 

[Richardonly]

Did you ever check the timing?  Since you did not personally see the rebuild,  could they have used the old timing gear and chain as it may have looked "OK?"

Wishing you a quick solution,
Richard

[Jay Friedman]

I once worked on a '41 which was experiencing hard starting.  Turned out the initial distributor timing was too "advanced" which will always cause this problem.  Check it with a timing light and adjust it according to the specs in the shop manual.

[bcroe]

I wonder if one of those gear reduction starters could help?  They have adapters for all
kinds of engines (simple I understand), but maybe not for 6V.  I have a rebuilt engine
that is harder to crank when hot (lowest oil use I ever owned), I am going to test this
on it.  Bruce Roe

[Richardonly]

I hope the poster lets us know the final results in regards to his hard starting problem.

[franek25]

it turned out to be the timing (= Something so simple )= took a friend finally coming over and pushing starter while I turned distributor i am a retard hahah live and learn I guess thank all!

[Julien Abrahams]

First I would have the starter checked. However, I think you're on the right track with the motor being so tight. I am defenitely no expert on these older engines (I have a '67 myself), but can it not be that the starter issue and timing issue are related (like others suggested, a timing chain that has jumped a tooth having an influence on the compression)? How/where was the engine rebuilt? Can you do a compression test?
Other than that: check all the ground straps from the engine. Bad ground can have a dramatic effect.

[Richardonly]

Have you ever checked your timing?

Wishing you the best.  Keep your chin up.

Regards, Richard

[sly37]

S My 37 is original. Ground straps battery to frame, one from engine to frame, one from starter mounting bolt to frame. These straps are close too 2 inches wide. Group 2 battery and what appears to be one big darn cable to starter. I have no issues with starter speed it work as it should.
                 D Schroeder

[Richardonly]

I had suggested checking the timing on page 1 and it only takes a few minutes.

So much work and effort working on the grounding of this car for such a simple solution.  Eveytime I see this problem and people change the ground wires, clean the connections, add additional grounds, etc, I WONDER, why not just use a set of jumper cables from the starter to the body and see if there is any difference before doing all the other work?

Anyone ever try this?

Regards, Richard