Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

I have a pull cable attached to a starter solenoid which in turn is connected by heavy cables to the battery and the starter.

The cable pull is O.K. but (I have painful hands so) would much prefer to just push a button on the dash.

I intend using a relay to save having high current going through the push button switch but because the cables to the solenoid are big, I am looking for help with the smaller wiring.

The car is positive earth and fitted with a modern high torque starter motor. In addition to the cables, there are some small wires to the starter motor ...but I am out of my depth with how to add the wiring for a momentary switch.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[ukdave2002]

Hi Ray

You will require a solenoid like this:



Simply swap the battery & starter motor cables from the pull starter, to the new solenoid.

To activate the solenoid use a momentary switch such as this:



There will be 2 spade terminals on the solenoid to activate the solenoid coil, on some solenoids one side of the coil may be attached to the solenoid frame, check for this with a meter, if one side of the solenoid coil does go to the case this terminal will need to be attached to the chassis (ground) otherwise it doesn't matter. The other terminal goes to one side of the momentary switch, the other side of the switch will go to battery negative (as your car is positive earth.

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

Please could I have this photo explained?
This is my high torque starter motor. It is supplied with 12 battery power from a cable pull type solenoid.

What I don't understand is the purpose of the white wire that is connected to the high amperage terminal and goes into the starter. Does it go to a solenoid built into the starter?

Is this a 'trigger' wire? and could I use it with a link to a momentary switch?

[ukdave2002]

Yes I think it could be.

If it?s the same starter that?s in this article

https://abingdonspares.com/blogs/tech-tips/tips-on-installing-high-torque-starters-mg-t-types

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

One last question...

The bulkhead mounted solenoid has a useful plunger button which allows you to operate the starter from the engine bay.

Is there a way to keep it connected to the cable pull while also having the trigger wire to a momentary switch on the dash.

In other words either a pull knob (as original) or push button (to save my painful fingers).?

[alastairq]

Double the wiring ....?
_________________
Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Ray White]

[ukdave2002]

Is the internal starter Solenoid required to engage the starter , or does the motor rely on traditional inertia to engage? if the later its really simple.

[ukdave2002]

I'm over thinking it!

Simply wire the new momentary switch in parallel with the original starter switch, so that either can be used.

[Ray White]

[alastairq]

The wires on the starter should be as per the example shown for the momentary switch as above.

The wires to the momentary switch can also each have a wire joined to them, and run to the ''pull'' starter switch.

Both types of switch will be ''make/break'' switches...both complete a circuit to the starter motor [relay]. Doesn't matter which switch you use...
_________________
Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

[Ray White]

I can copy the wiring as shown.

What I am now confused about is the need for a wire from the momentary switch to the "starter pull switch" which is basically a separate solenoid on the bulkhead.


Presently the "pull" cable is attached to a pin at the back of the bulkhead mounted solenoid. To one terminal of this solenoid is attached a heavy cable from the battery and from the adjacent terminal is another heavy wire that goes to the starter. Where, exactly, would I need to fit a thin wire from the momentary switch ?

[ukdave2002]