Show us a few pics of your current battery and regulator wiring, please.

 

Let me know if you need any more pictures

Edit: Having issues posting picture. Trying to figure it out

 

Ok I think I got it.

 

Those cables are inadequate for 6v. Look here for a comparison between 12v and 6v cables:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post12730432

What amp capacity is that knife switch rated for? The 6v starter easily draws 400+ amps.

 

Got gas?

Beautiful truck and the o.e. six is a bonus.

 

Ross, the amp capacity for the switch is 750 amps. I removed it and attached the cable directly to the battery and it was the same result. As for the cables, I replaced the ground cable from the block to the battery with the one from the PO which is thicker and nothing changed. And the one from the battery to solenoid is thicker now than it was before. Do you recommend certain cables that you can point me to? I found a store near me that has a 6V starter solenoid in stock. Should I try to replace it? Would the starter even budge if the solenoid was bad? I apologize for all the questions but I'm dying to get this thing running. All help is greatly appreciated.

Justin

 

Thanks for the compliment. And yeah it has gas

 

Impossible for me to tell what gauge wire you have between the solenoid and the starter, insulation being of different thickness. It may or may not be OK.
Suggest you remove the ground strap and spread the connector that goes over the positive post of the battery so the cable has full contact with the post. Remove the other end and clean the area where the cable contacts the head and the bolt. Remove the other end of the cable at the starter and clean it as well.
If the above does not correct the problem, use a heavy metal tool and jump across the two large posts on the starter relay/solenoid. This will by pass the relay/solenoid you have doubts with.
Edit: That ground strap looks to be a lot longer than necessary. You will loose some power there.

 

isn't this a recent purchase ?
Are you sure this isn't an engine fault that is causing the engine to turn slow ?
Does it turn over reasonably free with a socket and ratchet on the crank pulley ?
Is there oil in the motor ?

 

Along those lines, might be worth taking the plugs out and cranking, just to see that it is free.

 

The truck is a recent purchase. The engine started without a problem a few weeks ago. I just replaced the solenoid and I'm only getting 2 volts to the starter. It turns over with a ratchet. And the engine does have clean oil.

 

Did you try Ray's suggestion to jump across the poles of the solenoid? I always used to use the handles of a pair of pliers.

 

Two volts to the starter. Not OK. Lets back up to the passenger side of the "solenoid" and check voltage there. The fact you are getting 2 volts at the starter tells me the solenoid/relay is at least functional. Might be high resistance within, though. If you are getting six volts there, the problem is in that cable. If no six volts there, try the other side of the solenoid. We should have battery voltage there all the time.
Note. Voltage will drop at the starter but I don't ever remember seeing it go that low as 2 volts when the load is applied.
Edit: We may be dealing with a shorted starter but I doubt it. Have you adjusted the ground strap?

 

We charged up the battery a bit and she started right up! We took her for a spin around the block and everything was fine. We got back, shut the engine off, and when we tried to start it up again, it was the same noise as before. Could there be an issue with the generator/alternator that it isn't charging the battery? What should I check for? Thanks for all the advice.

 

Justin, You are making progress. I would charge up the battery again and start it up. Then check the voltage across the battery. If it is charging you should read more than 7 volts. My guess is that it is not charging. Patrick