Guys,
I went out with my daughter last night to get my wife a birthday card. When we got back to the truck, it cranked for about half a second, but immediately went to that hideous clicking sound. I had to call my seventeen your old son to come with my pickup to tow me home. Now, I know why I keep a chain in the truck. He wasn't too happy about towing me, I could see it in his face. After nearly yanking the bumper off the truck, I switched spots and I towed him. We got home ok, and no one was hurt. An cellphone on speaker is a big help while towing a rookie. We smelled a burning smell when we got home. I disconnected both posts on the battery.
The truck has most of it's original wiring, unfortunately, except the battery cables, starter solenoid, and anything else that can go wrong has been replaced. It is 6 volt with a Flathead V8.
Anyway, I just bought a new battery. I put a new starter solenoid in a few years back. I am wondering if it is the coil. Any thoughts here?
My father in law who helps me with this stuff will be home from Rhinebeck today. Thought I would get a head start.

Thanks,
Jeff

 

Clicking sound. Weak battery, bad battery cable connections, or bad starting relay. If it was dark when you drove it, perhaps the generator is not charging the battery. Perhaps the belt is slipping when the generator is under load. Are the replaced battery cables the big old heavy cables or something designed for 12V. Your six volt system is unforgiving of poor electrical connections, check them all. The coil would not cause the "clicking".

 

Ray is spot on. Start with the connections and wiring before launching into any parts replacement.

 

Ck the grounds all of them clean metal use dia elect or no-ox grease, rust or paint will not conduct elect

 

Sounds sorta lame but wack the starter a couple times with a hammer (like a nail hammer not something Large) and see if the starter drive is stuck in the flywheel. Very common on older vehicles.

 

Thanks guys, I am leaning toward the grounds on the starter solenoid. I just talked to a mechanic, and he said a lot of old fords would start after cleaning the corrosion off of the solenoids connections. Something about copper and steel corroding fast.

I will let you know.

Jeff

 

Be sure to check where your battery cables go into their connectors, both cables and both ends. Look for corrosion then pull on them firmly.

Since you had it hooked up by a tow chain why didn't you try pull starting it? Or use jumper cables? Or did you just leave that part of the event out?

Battery cables are still my best guess.