6 volt starter damage by 12 volt system

[Travelover]

All the starters I've seen have a small collar on the shaft that the bendix drive will hit when it flies out so it doesn't contact the cast aluminum bell end of the starter. Never had one destroy the starter end.

Have you tried a Google site specific (this site) search?

 

[California]

I found that using the 6V starter on the classic cars makes them start easier.

12 volts helps start junkers too. I had an extremely ratted out $500 Willys Wagon that somebody had put a 259 Studebaker V8 into long ago. (Those bolt up to Jeep transmission). 12 volts on its original 6 volt starter spun it like crazy and it started instantly. I doubt it would have started easily with 6 volts.

6 volt starters have windings and electrical components rated for double the current (to arrive at the same watts of cranking power) so they should be pretty indestructible.

The extra voltage may, as the OP noted, cause the bendix to slam hard into the ring gear or into the ring at the end of its travel but damage seems rare.

 

[09112]

I thank you all for your feedback. The general consensus is "no damage". Perhaps I misunderstood the posts, but having aired this post for the past three days it would give any reader ample time to speak. I'll just put this to bed and not worry about any perceived consequences. Thanks again.

 

[Travelover]

I thank you all for your feedback. The general consensus is "no damage". Perhaps I misunderstood the posts, but having aired this post for the past three days it would give any reader ample time to speak. I'll just put this to bed and not worry about any perceived consequences. Thanks again.

Like I said above, you can use Google to search only this site - using the right key words you can find just about anything.

 

[09112]

Thanks, Travelover, I did, in fact, Google the problem after closing the post. I found most of the posts agreed with the consensus on this forum. I did, however, find one entry that stated most emphaticaly that 'when this damage occurs, and it will', he then gave his fix. This was the only entry that I saw with a brief scan so I will just get on with the job and handle the problem if and when it occurs. This is just a restoration job of a piece of rust that sat totally exposed for years and I wanted to see if I could dismantle, paint, restore, and reassemble in a reasonable manner. Unfortunately, I went into this thing with no knowledge of costs involved and have learned a hard lesson. Hopefully it will be running in a couple weeks and then either park in front of my work shop or be sold to a passerby. It's a 48 Allis B, and is of no use to me other than completing my bucket list.

 

[09112]

Travelover, after looking at your post the second time I realize I misread it on both occasions. I did, in fact, search this site prior to making my post, but obviously didn't come up with the correct "search words". Having made my post I realized that the search of this problem would only give me the "fix" that I wanted and I would have missed the discussion of the different experiences of the members that posted. I guess you could say that I did get my answer in-as-much as most have not seen damage and only one person did. I look at it as though the bias has been removed. Thanks again for your posts.

 

[Travelover]

Travelover, after looking at your post the second time I realize I misread it on both occasions. I did, in fact, search this site prior to making my post, but obviously didn't come up with the correct "search words". ....

The point I should have emphasized is that the search engine here is much harder to use than going straight to Google and using their site specific search function. I've found all kinds of great advice that way. Glad you found your answer.

 

[09112]

I put a 12V battery w/650cc amps, (550cc is the recommended minimum), into my Allis B, using a 6v starter. Had the starter serviced with a new switch included. The biggest cable the parts store had was a number 4 wire and they suggested this would be adequate. It turned the motor well for a few seconds then lost power. My question: Do I need bigger wire or do I have another problem? Allis B has 7-1 compression and can be turned easily with crank. My first take would be to get a larger wire. Any comments?

 

[jaxs]

What he ^^^^ said or the starter may have overheated and give up altogeather through no fault of 12 volts.

 

[California]

I put a 12V battery w/650cc amps, (550cc is the recommended minimum), into my Allis B, using a 6v starter. Had the starter serviced with a new switch included. The biggest cable the parts store had was a number 4 wire and they suggested this would be adequate. It turned the motor well for a few seconds then lost power. My question: Do I need bigger wire or do I have another problem? Allis B has 7-1 compression and can be turned easily with crank. My first take would be to get a larger wire. Any comments?

Try it again and see if that new wire is too hot to touch. If not, then the wire isn't the problem. Touch all the connections looking for one that got hot.