Hi Everyone, I'm Steve Lovelady new to this forum. I've been following it for several years and have learned a LOT from it. So thanks to everyone that has posted in the past. Your advice and knowledge were simply indispensable. Having said that my newest project is a 1952 DeSoto Firedome S17. It runs and drives and stops needing some restoration. I've devoured every piece of information I can find about it and continue to find information from boards such as this. Right now, I'm working with the electrical system. Wiring that has been protected is in good shape while exposed wires are pretty crusty. The starting circuit has been a point of contention with several boards especially with the starter solenoid. Its simply a small relay at a junction tied into the key switch, voltage regulator, horn relay, and transmission solenoid. I Have the M6 transmission. I'm sure I will have questions as time p***es. Again, thanks for allowing me to join and I look forward to learning even more in the future.
Welcome to the HAMB. My friend has a 50 DeSoto sedan. Pulled it from a field but not bad considering. It has a flat six and he's trying to get it running. Thinks he needs a new starter............. Ya got any pics ??
I ***ume 6 volt system. Clean connections......clean connections......clean connections. Good grounds.....good grounds......good grounds. Correct 0 or 00 battery cables......0 or 00 battery cables......0 or 00 battery cables. Oh......and have fun with your project.
Thanks everyone for the welcome. And yes, I will be getting a service manual soon as well as an owners manual. Here is the car when I bought it. The owner also had a Chrysler he offered to me with a rebuilt Hemi, M6 ******, etc... for 2K. Might go back for that. The kicker is he has been collecting Packards for many years and is paring his collection of over 50 down. Will upload more later.
Been cleaning connections and continuing that process. I changed the battery cables due to excessive corrosion and I could see some damage from excess heat causing the copper to pick up a high resistance. This is due to excessive current, loose post connection, etc.. I measure 26 Ohms on the short negative cable. Measured 37 Ohms on the ground and 40 Ohms on the starter. Pretty high for such a big wire and as short as they are.
Your friend should pull it and do a bench test first. Or at least see if he can turn by hand. If he's brave enough to take it apart, he should inspect the brushes. Then the commutator, the thing the brushes ride against. If its smooth that is not so good. There are supposed to be grooves on it. In these grooves is an insulator. When the commutator is smooth, it inhibits the strength of the field on the rotor and it wont spin as quickly. The grooves need to be deepened with a small file. But not too deep. Maybe a few thousandths. The field coils need to be looked at too. Should be no signs of swelling, no signs of lacquer coming off the coils. And finally, lubric
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