Well I learned more about the starter than I wanted. It wouldn't spin the engine or even grunt. I thought it must be bound up against the flywheel. Tried rocking the truck with it in gear and nothing. Finally decided to pull it. I read everything on here I could find first and the main thing was to not pull the long bolts out or the starter would come apart. First tug on the starter after loosening the two bolts and the housing moved and I knew I was in trouble. Slid just far enough that the brushes slid off of the commutator. ( I think that those are the correct terms.) Couldn't get the teeth past the fly wheel still. Finally jacked the rear end up off the ground and turned the wheel with transmission engaged and heard it come loose. Then it came right out. Spent the next hour at the bench reassembling it. Special words learned while working cows didn't seem to help. Finally got it together and it spins freely by hand. Tomorrow I test it. It's always turned a bit slowly but I don't know if that's normal or not. I cleaned all of the connections as best I could and the starter cable is heavy. Battery is charged up. Not sure what else to try before re-installing it. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Words learned are important…I use them all.

Yes, a 6v system starter turns slower than a 12v. I like it, something about it.

 

Clean the mounting surfaces as that is how the starter is grounded. New extremely thick battery and starter cables are advisable. I recall that the Ford books state that these starters will pull 700A under load. A semi-good battery that takes a charge and reports a decent voltage unloaded will struggle with that.

 

You say the cable to your starter is heavy. All 3 cables need to be thick like 00 gauge .

How old is your cable to the starter.? It could be corroded on the inside . You wouldn't know unless you cut the cable and inspect. Get 3 new 00 cables made.

 

I don't know how old they are. I was wondering if maybe it was time to change them. Also think that I need a heavier duty battery.

 

Starter is back in and it does crank but not fast enough to start but the battery wasn't fully charged either.. I just realized that the battery is a 640 cc amp from Tractor Supply. Probably not enough battery.

 

I agree with bmoran and abe, Get the battery tested, probably replaced, but also get the 3 new 2/0 or 00 cables. Someone may try to sell you an 8v battery to improve your starter RPM, but many don't mention you will need to recalibrate your voltage regulator for a better than 9v charge. If you don't it's just a matter of time before your newish 8v battery will start sagging just like your old 6v did. Also on 8v any lights in the truck won't last long due to the higher voltage but man they will be bright! There are folks who use an 8v system and it works for them but it's probably because they adjusted their voltage regulator for the higher voltage needed. A friend of mine asked me to adjust his voltage regulator for 9v. I told him only if he agreed to buy a new one if it went so badly we had to junk it. He returned the 8v battery, got a new 6v, we replaced his 4 gauge 12 volt sized cables with new 2 OTTs, and was so impressed with the improvements he changed all the cables on his 6 volt tractors, which were cranking and starting better than ever.

Get a new 6 volt battery if you current one tests as a dud, and the new cables. Make sure your battery's ground cable runs right to the engine block, starter flange mounting bolt even. And while you are at it, make sure you have grounds from your engine block to your frame, and another from your engine block to you firewall. That will help head off other electrical issues.

 

First replace the cables with new 00 wires.

Second, The Tractor Supply Group 1 Batteries are sufficient in my experience so long as they remain in good condition. Many local auto parts outfits will load test a battery for you no cost. Just bring in to them (fully charged). If it load test anything but perfect, replace the battery.

 

Thanks guys. I like having things to check that are known issues rather than guessing at it all.

 

Great way to learn! I reassembled one on the tailgate 2200 miles from home. They lock up sometimes. Being able to reassemble them is a necessary skill. Congrats!! Words I learned in construction don't help either!

 

Try one of these, expensive but long lasting
https://www.optimabatteries.com/products/redtop-6v