[Chrysler300] Here's where it all started

["Rich Barber" <c300@xxxxxxx>]

Excellent point, but I believe most of the heat is generated from resistance
losses in the armature and coils, not friction of carbon on copper.  Arcing
may be an issue there.  A temperature of 360 degrees F, plus, is required to
melt solder.  I don't know if an armature could get that hot. But what ever
excess heat is generated is mostly hard on the insulation--and after 40
years, hopefully the engineers had begun building starters to take a licking
and keep on ticking.   

Charles Kettering had the brilliant observation that starters did not have
to run continuously so could be designed for "short" bursts of high current.
He patented the electric starter in 1915 and it changed the automotive world
as women could now easily start internal combustion engines, were no longer
relegated to electric autos and hit the road in droves.  Progress!!!(?).
Kettering was a partner in Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co (DELCO) and
was also a co-inventor of Freon.

Another post suggested checking the block-to-firewall grounding strap.
Always a good idea.  The one on my car is intact, but is kind of dainty and
certainly designed to assure a good ground connection for lights, fans,
accessories and coil--not the starter.  Connecting a ground cable to a
starter bolt would parallel the existing circuit between the primary ground
cable on the front of the engine to the starter--and I think that would be
of negligible resistance.

One last thought, then let's bury this one for another six months--and that
is ignition timing.  As the timing is advanced, the engine may be harder to
start.

C-300'ly,
Rich Barber
Brentwood, CA
1955 Chrysler C-300


-----Original Message-----
From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of John Mc Adams
Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 7:18 PM
To: artc@xxxxxxxxxxx; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [Chrysler300] slow starting 55 new yorker

This is to all members who may have a 6 volt hard starting early Chrysler.  

 

Be careful of running the starter for too long a period.  I mean like just
keeping the starter cranking and cranking until the engine finally catches.
As you are turning over that starter, it is consuming watts (you know like
the thing they rate light bulbs with ? volts times amps equals watts).  The
longer you crank that starter, the hotter it will get.  Those carbon brushes
are rubbing on the armature causing heat from the resistance between the
carbon brushes and the steel plates in the armature.  If you keep it up, it
is possible to actually melt the solder out of the armature windings causing
the armature circuit to either short closed or to open and not conduct
electricity any more.  I would recommend cranking for no more than a minute
at a time and then let it sit for a minute or two to let the armature cool
down before cranking it some more.

 

Anyone else out there have any comments on my caution.  My dad taught this
to me long, long ago and it still makes sense to me today.

 

I have also made my own battery and starter cables in the past.  I once
placed a battery in the trunk back in my drag racing days and ran cables
back into the trunk.  I went to the local welding supply shop and bought
some 4/0 welding cable (over ¾ inch in diameter) and bought a swaging block
to attach the attachment lugs onto the cables.  You physically cannot get
the copper in the cable hot enough to solder terminals onto it unless you
dip the cable and lug assembly into a molten solder pot.  Welding cable is
made up of lots and lots of very fine wires that are woven and braided into
a cable shape.  These very fine, woven wires make the cable into a much more
flexible cable and I believe it will carry more current as well.  I have
also used this technique on multiple standby batteries in my neighbors RV.  

 

Remember, when the Auto manufacturers went from 6 volt to 12 volt batteries
and charging systems, the cable diameter shrunk significantly.

 

I doubt however that the tech inspectors at our concourse meets would
appreciate this as a solution.

 

Anyway, just a caution on too much cranking on the starters.

 

Big John Mc Adams

(In SoCal)

 

  _____  

From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
Behalf Of Art Cragnotti
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2007 6:52 AM
To: 300 Club
Subject: [Chrysler300] slow starting 55 new yorker

 

Hi Gang, Art here, In addition to my 300G I also have a newly restored
'55 new yorker. It's a crapshoot whether it will start at ahy given time.
The motor turns over very slowly like a weak battery, especially when hot.
I still have the 6 volt system and have tried everything.rebuilt starter,new
selanoid and relay and a new battery. I know these cars started better than
this when new so why not now. Ary suggestions??. This is probably a common
problem and I hope somebody has a solution.

Thanks Art

 



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