1938 60S difficult crank starting

[Bob Martin]

New battery, posts cleaned, but cranking turnover is slow. Runs great when started.
Any ideas on best approach to crank it faster, or try different ignition devices?
Did hear about solid state ignition things, but also was told not the best thing to install.
Thanks,
Bob Martin

[Steve Passmore]

No amount of changes to your ignition system will make it crank faster, you already said it runs great when running.   It has been said many times before here  about checking all your battery cable sizes so I guess that would be the first step, check also the connections to engine and ground, after that you probably have to look to the starter.

[Bill Ingler #7799]

6 volt battery cables should be made from 00 welding cable. If you are using the small battery cables found at your local auto parts store, get rid of them. Positive ground car so clean the area where the positive ground cable is attached to the frame. Also from that same point run a short 00 cable and ground that cable to one of your starter bolts. With the proper ground and larger battery cables, your cranking speed will improve. Bill

[Bob Martin]

Thanks, Will do that check this eve!
Bob Martin

[Jay Friedman]

In addition to what Bill recommends, I suggest you follow Doug Houston's prescription for this problem and run an additional ground strap to the starter's commutator end plate (the plate at the end of the starter that doesn't go into the motor).  To do this remove the end plate, drill a 3/8 inch hole into it at a convenient place, install a 3/8 inch stainless steel bolt 1¼ or 1½ inches long so that it sticks out of the end plate and run a ground strap to this bolt from the bolt that the ground strap from the battery is attached to.  (This could be a 12 inch strap purchased at an auto parts store.)  The new grounding bolt will need a lock washer and a lock nut as well as a 2nd nut and lock washer to hold on the ground strap. 

As Doug wrote, "Grounding the battery at this point on the starter puts the battery connection as close as possible to the place where the starter motor is grounded".

I did this to my 6 volt '49's starter, as did a friend to his, and they both perform as if the cars' have 12 volt systems.

[joeceretti]

To repeat, you need to make sure your grounds are clean. Your cables are heavy enough for the current. Your charging system is keeping your battery voltage up. Your battery has the correct specific gravity with no shorted cells.

This is how my 1938 60S starts with 100% correct wiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riTnp1BiN7A

You can email me directly for help with that if you like.