I have a starter that is set up for 12 volts on my flathead. For the second year in a row the starter quit working. It acts like a dead battery, but the voltage is good. Took it apart last year and found the springs for the brushes had lost their tension. Everything else was good so I put in new brushes and springs. It worked fine until Friday morning during the reliability run at the Roc. Now the same thing. Any ideas on what I should be looking for? It always starts easy, so there is no excessive cranking. Any starter expertise would be appreciated. Everyone is tired of pushing it.
I would run a stock flathead starter. A stock flathead starter is to me, much better than one that has been converted to 12v. A stock starter can last on a 12v system for years. But. that's just my opinion.
Could have been poor quality springs. My ex=wife worked for a spring co. in Ohio., maybe she made your springs.
You can make a 12 volt starter by just putting a 56 & up case on your 6 volt armature. the armature part numbers are the same. Many folks say it is not necessary, and perhaps true, but since the 12 volt starter cases are easy to come by, thats what I do, and its all ford parts now your problem is unique in that you are wrecking the springs. Without looking at a schematic, I think the springs are part of the ground, and heat comes from resistance, and heat will wreck a spring. Do you have a clean unpainted mounting surface, and do you have the little bracket that bolts to the oil pan, and is it all clean and getting good contact ?
That is how my starter is built. I don't have that bracket on mine. I will check my ground situation, Thanks.
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