Electrical question
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Prestonsburg Ky
Everything was new. Had started several times today. Could the starter dragging cause it? When I say starter dragging, it takes a second to stop cranking after motor is running
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,949
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From: Virginia
What do you mean by "fried". A total meltdown of the battery post and cable end? Or a little melting of the insulation on the new cable.
A little melting points to a poor/loose connection at that spot, or a faulty cable. You must have to crank on it a lot to start?
A total meltdown points to the cable being shorted to the engine block or the frame somewhere downstream.
A little melting points to a poor/loose connection at that spot, or a faulty cable. You must have to crank on it a lot to start?
A total meltdown points to the cable being shorted to the engine block or the frame somewhere downstream.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Prestonsburg Ky
What do you mean by "fried". A total meltdown of the battery post and cable end? Or a little melting of the insulation on the new cable.
A little melting points to a poor/loose connection at that spot, or a faulty cable. You must have to crank on it a lot to start?
A total meltdown points to the cable being shorted to the engine block or the frame somewhere downstream.
A little melting points to a poor/loose connection at that spot, or a faulty cable. You must have to crank on it a lot to start?
A total meltdown points to the cable being shorted to the engine block or the frame somewhere downstream.
Just positive terminal, wire is fine. Would the solenoid sticking cause this. Or weak battery?
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
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From: Northeast, OK
I'm checking out of this thread as the answers to our very precise questions aren't telling me anything. All I now know is that "the wire" is fine. Does that mean the terminal on the cable is what burned, or does it mean the whole cable fried. I dunno and would have to ask another question, and I'm tired of the 20 Questions game.
Good luck, Dave!
Good luck, Dave!
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Prestonsburg Ky
I'm checking out of this thread as the answers to our very precise questions aren't telling me anything. All I now know is that "the wire" is fine. Does that mean the terminal on the cable is what burned, or does it mean the whole cable fried. I dunno and would have to ask another question, and I'm tired of the 20 Questions game.
Good luck, Dave!
Good luck, Dave!
The hot terminal, not the wire not the battery post, precisely nothing else, as stated in the original post. Thanks.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 549
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From: Ashland
Come on guys.. seriously.. He said terminal in the 1st post. He never said the cable was fried or the positive post was fried or anything like that. Must be that time of the month for a few here.. 
Did it happen while you were just starting it, or was it running after you started it then it fried the terminal?
How did you find out? did the truck die or would it not start at all?
I know some pretty dumb questions, but just curious.
Like Dave said previously, could be a short or a loose connection at the terminal.. I'm leaning more toward a loose connection or contamination at the terminal. I ended up replacing my terminals with some heavy duty ones. If you have the original ones from '86 more than likely they've stretched a bit or could need some cleaning. there's an arc occurring somewhere between either the post and the terminal, or the terminal and wire.. I'd start there first since that's where the problem occurred..
Did it happen while you were just starting it, or was it running after you started it then it fried the terminal?
How did you find out? did the truck die or would it not start at all?
I know some pretty dumb questions, but just curious.
Like Dave said previously, could be a short or a loose connection at the terminal.. I'm leaning more toward a loose connection or contamination at the terminal. I ended up replacing my terminals with some heavy duty ones. If you have the original ones from '86 more than likely they've stretched a bit or could need some cleaning. there's an arc occurring somewhere between either the post and the terminal, or the terminal and wire.. I'd start there first since that's where the problem occurred..
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 19,311
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From: Waterloo, Iowa
Is the engine tuned well, does it start right away? It's almost "interesting" how the starting circuit can feed on itself and cause all sorts of problems. Pull the battery, clean it up and charge it up thoroughly. Replace cables, grind down to bright shiny metal on the block ground connection. Replace starter and solenoid, make sure cables are clean and tight.
Sent from tin can and string
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 549
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From: Ashland
Don't let some of the people here with their panties in a wad get you down. There are quite a few on here that are extremely helpful and are willing to help any way they can. I joined a few months back when I got my truck and they've been very helpful. Everyone has to start somewhere, especially working on these old trucks. This forum is a really good resource for those that need help and information on the upkeep, maintenance, and modifications to them.
Glad you got it fixed.
Glad you got it fixed.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Prestonsburg Ky
Gonna get a factory one soon as I can.