Starters, and Neanderthals

[jmbrodsky@domain.elided]

Luke,

     From this last explanation, it sounds like you may have a dirty starter
commutator, or a bad field, or armature.  The fact that the lights dim, mean 
that there is a significant draw due to a high current portion of the circuit.  
Ohm's law says that if there's a high current, the resistance must be low, 
because the voltage is constant.  Well, I think there is a short accross some of
the commutator points, dirty brushes, etc, but it sounds like it might be in the
starter as opposed to the electrical.  The last test you should try to do (I 
know the T'all starter is kinda easy to get to) is to take the jumper cables 
from another battery and hook them directly to the starter and see what you get.
 If it cranks ok, then bad cables or bad electrics inside the truck.  If it 
doesn't crank, Bingo!  Pull it, clean it, and throw it back in.  Should be ready
to go.

Hmm, reading that last line I realize there is some innuendo in that.  None 
intended.

Good luck,


     -Joel Brodsky

         '76 IHC Scout II 345/tf727
         '75 IHC Travelall 150 4wd 392/tf727
         '72 Chev Carryall 3dr 4wd 350/th350 sold, but not forgotten.

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Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 00:42:58 -0700 (MST)
From: Luke Nelson <lnelson@domain.elided>
Subject: I can't even push start the dang thing

I don't know why, but I tried push starting the stupid thing and NOPE,
none for me.  It just plain won't start.

and it still makes that clickity sound - let me relate what it sounds
like.  It sounds like the starter gear is ALMOST getting to the flywheel.
Like it is a half inch to short and it is just rubbing the flywheel (clunk
clunk clunk clunk)  Almost like what a starter sounds like when the
battery is low - but I garunite that my battery isn't low (I checked it
anyway)  However when you do go to start it it REALLY sucks power.  I mean
makes the interier lights dim, deadens the radio, makes that clunky noise
and all.  If I were a betting man I would say the battery is low cause it
shows every sign.  However as we speak I got my automatic battery charger
on it (I did crank at it a bit) but it is fully charged.  And to test that
fact I pulled it and stuck it in the scout and the scout started right up.

SO!!!!  could this be the starter?  I haven't tried to jump it cause it is
getting power and it is really hard to get too.  On hindsight I have had
problems like what Tom has described.  the past week or so it has
sometimes not started and I try again and it will start.

It is like the starter just can't get enough power.

Anyway, thanks for any info that can be provided (I think I am going to
try to jump the starter tommorrow)

Luke

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Ken,

     You win! Let me guess the bar sign was powered by methane from the swamps 
nearby, and the only other people around hadn't heard of the wheel or fire yet.
You also forgot to mention, the leeches, water moccasins, and piranha in the 
water.  Back in those days men didn't need pliers!  Men were MEN!  They used 
their bloody fingertips!

     Man, I'm still chuckling,


     -Joel Brodsky

         '76 IHC Scout II 345/tf727
         '75 IHC Travelall 150 4wd 392/tf727
         '72 Chev Carryall 3dr 4wd 350/th350 sold, but not forgotten.

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Date: Tue, 24 Feb 1998 09:53 -0700 (MST)
From: Ken Farmer <Ken.Farmer@domain.elided>
Subject: The kids of today

Carpet?  Heated garage?  Luxury.  Well let me tell ya, I really had it
tough back in the old days.  Yep.  We would have loved to have a carpet,
or a heater, or even a roof.  Back in those days I used to have to
get up at 4:00 AM, half an hour before I went to bed, work under my
Travelall while laying on my back in ten inches of freezing cold water,
my only tool was a worn out screw-driver, my only light came from the
neon bar sign down the block, and my only source of heat came from
a small bag of pig manure I kept in my pocket.

You try to tell the kids of today this, but they just won't believe
you...

Ken Farmer

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