Cable connections - something wrong ?
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Cable connections - something wrong ?
Thought it was going to be a monumental after a 7 1/2 yr. build . Installed the new heater core in the Magic Air heater , installed heater , filled system with water ( no leaks) , installed battery connected the neg. cable & as I touched the pos. lead to the battery it sparked and the solenoid engaged . Obviously I have some thing wrong . Before attempting this consulted the manual and other sources for correct connections . What am I missing . Am itching to have the stock truck move under it's own power .How could I mess up something so simple ? Feel like an idiot ! Thanks , Denny
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Not on a '52. They are a two-wire switch that connects the two terminals when pushed. '48-'51 are as you describe.
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#8
Denny, it looks like you have your battery hooked up as a negative ground? If this is the case disconnect the small red wire from the solenoid and try hooking up battery again. If it no longer cranks the problem is with the start switch or it's wiring. If it still cranks it is most likely a bad solenoid.
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Has anyone ever explained why positive ground was used in the first place? Have heard corrosion issues. Or why they made the switch actually? Advent of transistors is supposedly "the" answer, they are negatively grounded (for cooling purposes) Anyway, sorry don't want to derail thread.
Kind of a mind bender though. Must have been lots of fun in 57 and in later years. Was red cable always used as negative on a positive system? Had to be. Wait a sec. Model T's were negative ground?? But then Model A s were not, Ford had positive ground till '56? Okay time to lay down for a while. Keep seeing that RED cable = POS. Aargh!
Kind of a mind bender though. Must have been lots of fun in 57 and in later years. Was red cable always used as negative on a positive system? Had to be. Wait a sec. Model T's were negative ground?? But then Model A s were not, Ford had positive ground till '56? Okay time to lay down for a while. Keep seeing that RED cable = POS. Aargh!
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POS made off shore starter solenoid !! Al it was good for is the metric fasteners .The rest made it in the trash .Installed the old one & all is well .
Turned battery around . What a difference ! Dumb a$$ me .
So the excitement lasted for a few minutes . Turned key on , pushed starter button NOTHING .
But the head lights work ( dim & bright ) dash lights work , cigar lighter works , and of course the Magic Air heater is awesome .
While removing starter button to make sure contacts were secure a tab made contact /w the dash resulting in some minor sparkage . As I recall engaging the button makes the starter contact .Correct ?
Also no tail light or brake lights '. Maybe the pressure switch for brakes but am sure the tail lights are wired correctly . Will double check wed. Thanks for all the help so far . Would sure like to be able to drive it back to the garage .Dragging it around w/ the tow bar is getting old . Also getting harder to push now that it is getting heavier w/ parts .
Turned battery around . What a difference ! Dumb a$$ me .
So the excitement lasted for a few minutes . Turned key on , pushed starter button NOTHING .
But the head lights work ( dim & bright ) dash lights work , cigar lighter works , and of course the Magic Air heater is awesome .
While removing starter button to make sure contacts were secure a tab made contact /w the dash resulting in some minor sparkage . As I recall engaging the button makes the starter contact .Correct ?
Also no tail light or brake lights '. Maybe the pressure switch for brakes but am sure the tail lights are wired correctly . Will double check wed. Thanks for all the help so far . Would sure like to be able to drive it back to the garage .Dragging it around w/ the tow bar is getting old . Also getting harder to push now that it is getting heavier w/ parts .
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The starter button on a 52 has power from the Always-Hot side of the circuit breakers on one lead, and the other goes to the small terminal on the solenoid. You can make it so the button gets power from the ignition switch, but the stock harnesses aren't set up that way. I'm sure you are stock?
Edit: Make sure your "old" solenoid is a 52, and not a 48-51. Try grounding the small terminal; if it cranks (you did remember to put it in neutral, right?!) you have the old style. If you jump from the battery to the small terminal and it cranks, it's a 52.
Edit: Make sure your "old" solenoid is a 52, and not a 48-51. Try grounding the small terminal; if it cranks (you did remember to put it in neutral, right?!) you have the old style. If you jump from the battery to the small terminal and it cranks, it's a 52.
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