Projects Hudson wiring help

Hi all,

I'm having some issues with wiring around the starter solenoid on my 55 Hudson. When I repeatedly start the car the wires going into the solenoid get really hot, to the point of smoke coming off the wire sheathing. The coil also heats up really fast too. I'm just wondering where I should looking before I start replacing things. Everything is still all original 6 volt.

Thanks in advance,

Evan

 

I would start by looking for a poor ground to the engine block. Starting current can flow through the coil or other electrical components seeking a ground path.

Is it the small wires or big wires on the solenoid that are getting hot?

 

Its everything on the battery side. I'm thinking there may be something up with the ignition switch too. The solenoid only buzzes if I try to use it.

 

So, what are the odds of several things going bad all at once, compared to a problem with one common ground point?
For a quick and dirty test, you could use jumper cables to go from the grounded side of your battery (pos or neg ground?) to the engine block and see if it helps. Maybe it's a bad ground to the body.
Whatever it is I would start by looking at where the current flows down common paths if several things start acting up at the same time.

 

you have some sort of resistance someplace, bad connections or possibly wrong placement of ballast resistor or lack there of. you will want to check with meter, as stated before start with engine to body.

 

I'd start with checking the quality of the ground.

 

Thanks guys,

I'll be digging into it more tomorrow. Now that I think of it, I don't recall seeing a ground line from the engine to the frame.