6 volt starter problems


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By 55Monterey - 18 Years Ago
Finally getting my '55 Mercury 292 out of mothballs for the season and have run into a starting problem. My battery has been on a Batterytender and showed fully charged. Upon turning the key, the engine would barely turn over and it wouldn't start. I took the battery to my local garage to be checked and it came back "failed". So, I bought a new battery and still have a very slow cranking. I cleaned all cable ends and attachment points to no avail.



The last time I tried to crank her, it cranked slowly for a few seconds then the bendix disengaged and the starter spun quickly.



My questions are: Should I be looking at something else or do you folks think it may be time for a new starter? If so, can someone recommend where to get one or where to get mine rebuilt? I've been reading about the high torque mini's but all I can find is a 12 volt unit. Is a 6 volt available for a V8 Y block?
By Hoosier Hurricane - 18 Years Ago
Monterrey:

See if your local garage can check the starter amperage draw for you.  Then you will know if it is drawing too much power.  If that is within limits, then maybe the battery does not have enough capacity.  Modern group 1 batteries tend to be light on cranking amps.  If your battery tray will accept it, a golf cart or farm tractor 6 volt battery will have more power.  Also, all cables must be 1 gauge or bigger, the 4 gauge cables for 12 volt systems are too small for the 6 volters.

John

By DANIEL TINDER - 18 Years Ago
Monterey,



Had my 292 6V starter rebuilt with "high-torque" windings by Tee-Bird Products (800-423-3723). Best money I ever spent. With an Optima battery, "OO" gauge cables and clean/proper connections, starting is never a problem. It doesn't spin quite as fast as a 12V, but if your motor is tuned/correct, you won't regret staying with 6V (unless you plan to hop the Merc up and need modern performance ignition).
By 55Monterey - 18 Years Ago
Thanks gents for your replys. I try to look at things in an analytical fashion.

The car started just fine last year when I put it away. The battery tested very weak so I could assume it needed replaced. The battery cables didn't get smaller over the winter so I can assume the ones I have are suitable, at least for now. I cleaned all my connections so they are cleaner now than ever so I can eliminate that problem too. That leads me to believe the starter is defective. I would have a load test done if only I could start it to drive to the garage.

I am definately keeping my 6 v system because the car is 100% original.

By rgrove - 18 Years Ago
Is it a fordomatic/merc-o-matic?  The Ford-O can be bump/push started (at least in '56 they could; not sure if '55 is any different).  Not sure if the Merc-O can; Im not sure what, if anything, is differnet? 

Have to get up to bout 20 mph though, then pop it into 1st with the key on...

Of course, then you have to figure out how to get it started to get it home after the test!