My buddy has a 1953 f-3 truck with a Flathead V8./ The engine was just rebuilt along with a new 6 volt battery,2ga batt. cables solenoid and have tried 2 new starter.The engine will crank over ok with no plug in it but turns maybe 1/2 turn with the plugs in. With the plug out and cranking, put my finger over 1 hole and it locks up. I tested the batt and it is fully charged. Tried jumping for a second with 12V and it is a little better. Ant thoughts?I used one of the old style amp gauges that you hold against the batt cable and it reads 200-230 amps.

 

That's about half of normal draw, so the starter needs rebuilding.

 

That is the second new starter I bought, got this one today. How accurate are these hold to wire gauges? I do not have any other type unless I take the starter to rebuild shop to test.

 

I think it is better to get your old starter rebuilt then to buy a new one made in who knows where.

 

Sounds like a bad cable connection, bad connector on a cable, bad cable, bad ground connection, too much paint on parts, etc. Engine ground cable is hooked directly to battery, isn't it?.,,,jack

 

Joe, HarleyMSN went through something about like this a while back. Had his starter rebuilt, checked and rechecked by the rebuild shop but still not enough power to spin and start the engine. He installed an old original starter that I had layin' around and it starts like it should. I don't know if he ever resolved the original starter issue or not. Perhaps he'll weigh in on his findings.

 

Actually, my starter is still laying on the bench. The shop had retested it said that it was fine. But my problem with it was not turning slow, it was the fact that it would not turn at all after I installed it with the new bendix.

 

Found it to be the solenoid. when put the batt cable straight to the batt it cranked over fine. I bought a new one from a Model A parts store and that one was defective it would start as soon as I put the cables on it with out the trigger wire. So now I will go back and get another one and see what happens.

 

NAPA has them:
NAPA AUTO PARTS - STARTER SOLENOID