MTFCA Forum

The starter in my 1927 Roadster Pickup has always seemed weak ever since I purchased this restored pickup. In order to eliminate all the other factors, I installed the following items new and insured all the connections were clean and tight:

1) Optima Red Top 6V 800 CCA battery.
2) Langs heavy duty 1/0 cable set (battery to switch, switch to starter and battery to frame strap).
3) Langs starter switch.
4) 12" cable (same gauge and termination as Langs switch to starter cable) to connect from starter mount bolt to frame.

The starter seems to turn the engine over much better now. The restorer used smaller gauge cables and did not add the starter to frame cable.

There is 6.25V across the battery at rest. There is 4.75V across the starter when it is cranking. Current into the starter during cranking is 125A.

Do these figures seem correct? I would prefer not to do the $445. Langs rebuilt starter!!

Thanks,
Hurst

If your last concern is the starter and with all due respect to Lang’s you can get a good rebuilt unit for around 225.00 from individuals on the forum.
It could be your starter needs a overhaul. Have you considered doing it yourself or just removing it to ck out the brush’s, brush plate, armature and etc. If it’s an older original it may need it. A new set of fields, rebuilt brush plate and cleaned up armature makes a big difference.
I restored mine on my 3 T’s and after I did they really came alive. If I can anybody can. There is lots of information about T starters. Following the advice from the literature and the forum you can’t go wrong.
Good luck!

Your voltage and current readings sound pretty good to me, if measured right at the starter. I woud re-check all the new connections for tightness. Is it possible you have a dragging clutch or bands causing an extra load on the starter?

Sounds like everything is pretty much fine.

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/25 ... 1337040880

Check the voltage at the starter while it is cranking. Check the voltage drop from the battery to the starter while cranking, feel all connection for heat after cranking, make sure the grounding connections are good.

Hammett in Biloxi will rebuild Model T starters and generators for around $200.

Hurst
Sounds like you have addressed the most common problems external the the starting motor itself.
If you continue to have have trouble, here is a link to an article that describes the most common internal starting motor fault and how to easily correct it. https://modeltfordfix.com/repairing-a-c ... r-problem/
Ron Patterson

A Model T starter will not sound as excited as many late model starters.

I was not 100% clear on your story. After all the new parts were installed do you still have an issue? Is it slow compared to other Ts?

My '23 Runabout has always been a slow cranker. I have replaced the wiring with the heavy gage stuff, cleaned the contacts on the original starter switch and use the 6v Optima. The starter has been rebuilt by two different people and it still cranks slow even by Model T standards. I dunno what more to do. Possibly that's just the way some of them are.

Paul