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Wiring. Chevy starter solenoid issue

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by tfeverfred, Apr 2, 2008.

  1. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    I'm planning to try and wire my T on my lonesome. With the help of some very good schematics from a member of the NTBA, KoalaT. In his drawing, the starter solenoid has 3 connections on it, "BATT", "R" and "S". However, my starter solenoid only has "BATT" and "S". Why is that and how will I hook it up to the switch?

    My engine is a 1984 305 SBC and the starter is for that engine. Anyone have any ideas?
     
  2. "S" is for start....."R" is for a bypass wire to go around the ignition ballast resister so the coil gets full 12 volt power will cranking

    if you engine has an HEI distributor, forget about it.
     
  3. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Yes, I am running a HEI. In his drawing he has a wire coming from "R" to "IGN" on the ignition switch. So, nothing goes between the two?
     
  4. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Here is the drawing I am working from:

    [​IMG]

    P.S. the voltmeter is actually a one wire alternator. He made a mistake.
     

  5. in your case , the only wire going your the starter is from the "start" position on the ignition switch..goes to the "S"

    run a 14 gauge wire from the " ignition" position on the ignition switch to the "battery" terminal on the HEI...make sure that there is 12 volts there while the ignition switch is in the start position (while cranking) . i've always thought that was dumb by GM to mark it "battery" when it needs 12 volt switched power

    you can also take your system power from the big battery lug on the starter...use a fusible link there..use 10 gauge or 8 if you have a very high output alternator
     
  6. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    36-3window nailed it. With the hei you don't need or want the resistor and don't need the bypass wire.

    That drawing is great for any GM engine with 12 voolts and a point type distributor though.
     
  7. looking at the wiring diagram , that wire from R should not be going to the ignition switch...it should be connected to the ignition ballast resistor on the coil side. that's only needed for points ignition

    your buddy just made a mistake

    here is how it should be:

    [​IMG]


    as your buddy wrote on the diagram , you don't need that wire or the coil or the ballast resister with HEI....just go from ignition switch to the distributor
     
    sunbeam likes this.
  8. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Thanks, guys! I really appreciate it. I'm trying to save some money and wire my T without a kit. this info helped a lot.
     
  9. looking at the diagram again , i see a couple things i would do different

    the headlight power is hooked to the accessory side of the ignition switch..i would hook it up to full time power do you can turn your headlights on while the ignition is off...like normal cars

    also, the volts gauge is hooked to the battery lug on the starter..that will power up the gauge even with the ignition switch off. the volt , and all electrical gauges should be hooked to switched power/accessory side of the ignition switch

    don't forget the fuses and the neutral safety switch
     
  10. Retrorod
    Joined: Jan 25, 2006
    Posts: 2,034

    Retrorod
    Member

    You are da man 36-3w.
     
  11. dbradley
    Joined: Jan 6, 2007
    Posts: 1,036

    dbradley
    Member

    Don't know if you're going to use turn signals, but be aware that they can be tricky to wire. If you buy a kit with an external signal switch, the directions will come with it. If you use a column with internal signal switch, you'll need a diagram for what ever car the column came from............. I'd also recommend a "mechanical" brake light switch instead of the "pressure" type. They carry a heavier load, and don't require bleeding the brakes if it fails and needs replacing.
     
  12. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus


    Thanks for the advice. I had planned on using a bolton signal unit from Speedway and I had decided to use a mechanical brake light switch a while ago.
     
  13. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Thanks for helping me see what my friend was trying to show me, 36-3window. I'm collecting the things I need to tackle this in a couple weeks.
     
  14. Might I suggest some very cheap fire insurance....

    Splice a 4 to 6 inch length of 16 gauge Fusible Link wire between the starter solenoid Bat connection and the 10 gauge wire feeding the Ignition switch.... It's dirt cheap fire insurance.

    If you can't find it locally let me know.

    Al
     
  15. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    I got her done yesturday. If I can't find the fuseible link local, I'll give you a PM. Thanks.
     
  16. Goztrider
    Joined: Feb 17, 2007
    Posts: 3,066

    Goztrider
    Member
    from Tulsa, OK

    What would be the rating on a 16 gauge fusible link?

    As I'm going to be wiring my Dubble A in the semi-near future, would it be a good suggestion to - instead of wiring in a fusible link, which is a pain in the ass to change - rather install a circuit breaker type fuse (right terminology?) inline. If there is a problem, it'll trip, and stay tripped if the problem continues. However, it won't be as much of a bitch as the fusible link is to change should it blow.

    I just know how much of a bitch it is to change those damned fusible links.
     
  17. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    In the schematics that my friend sent me, he has a 50 watt main fuse wired into the wire coming off the battery terminal on the fuse block and running to the battery terminal of the solenoid. This takes care of protecting the whole system.

    He also shows a30amp circuit breaker running off the dimmerswitch and going to the light switch.

    I hope this helps. I'll scan the drawings I have and post them later, so you can get a good idea of what I'm talking about.
     

  18. Didn't you mean 50 amp???

    The R.O.T. (rule of Thumb... Who was he anyway?) is to use a wire four sizes smaller than the wire you are protecting. The amperage capacity of the commonly used 7foot length of 10 gauge wire for feeding the basic automotive electrical system is around 100 amps before the wire starts getting too warm. The load capacity of the very short piece of 16 gauge fusible link is obviously higher.

    I have seen fusible links referred to as a "primitive fuse" but I hardly agree... A fusible link, be it the length of fusible link wire or the new style of cartridge fusible link are a very good "Slow Blow" type of fuse. They will open if there is a continued over current situation but will not open if there is a short term over current situation such as a motor starting or a random short when you are one of us mentally challenged gray headed mechanics doing something stupid under the hood.

    The above reasoning is why I shy away from the One Main Maxi Fuse idea in place of a fusible link.. They don't give you the time to say " Oh shit, I shouldn't have done that". They just blow. Take a look at a new vehicle and you see that they have broken the system down and use multiple Maxi Fuses and Multiple Fusible links as well as single circuit fuses.

    BUT... Any type of protection is good protection when it comes to electricity.

    If you properly design a system and install the proper protection in the proper places you will not be changing fusible links, unless, there is a serious problem like a sheet metal panel wearing through the insulation of a large wire.

    I have to date replaced two fusible links on factory built cars that that I or family members have owned. One on a '78 Chevy one ton when replacing a motor because the harness needed repair due to heat induced insulation failure. The other was a link on my mothers Buick after a transmission shop left the fusible link rubbing on a starter bolt.

    I have not replaced one on any of the over 250 vehicles I have rewired, nor have I had to replace one for a wiring kit that I have supplied.

    Look at and study any '70's - '80's model GM vehicle for the basic and bullet proof wiring system. Why do all of the kit manufactures copy these systems??? Easy Answer = They work.

    Al
     
  19. trad27
    Joined: Apr 22, 2009
    Posts: 1,197

    trad27
    Member

    Ok, I wont feel bad stealing a year and a half old thread. so I have a 1965 buick 300 with a autozone solenoid. The solenoid has a S, a R, and the main batt terminals. The car has no wiring I am just trying to get it to turn over with jumper cables. The main terminal obviusly goes to the positive the instructions it came with said to hook the R to a prong coming out of the starter, and the only way I can get the starter to turn is by touching the R to the main batt, but I cant get the starter to engage into the flywheel? how can I get it to engage and turn the motor?? I am trying to figure it out so when I wire the car I know what wire does what.

    Thanks in advance
     
  20. trad27
    Joined: Apr 22, 2009
    Posts: 1,197

    trad27
    Member

    ok that makes cents, I guess I misread them and then threw them away:mad: learn the hard way I guess, I will try that tomarrow.
     
  21. Dan
    Joined: Mar 13, 2001
    Posts: 2,384

    Dan
    Member

    the rule of thumb meant it was okay to beat your spouse with a stick no bigger than the diameter of your thumb....
     
  22. STDog
    Joined: Dec 3, 2008
    Posts: 2

    STDog
    Member

    Sorry to post to such an old thread. It came up when searching and I thought this should be addressed.

    No, it doesn't. The point of the fusible link (and other fuses)is to protect the wiring.

    Putting a big fuse at the fuse box leave the wire unprotected from there all the way to the starter.

    What happens to that fuse if the wire shorts at the firewall? Nothing. You burn up the wire between the short and the starter, possible starting a fire.


    Put something at the starter and it protects the wire from the starter to the box and the box.
     
  23. 39 Ford
    Joined: Jan 22, 2006
    Posts: 1,558

    39 Ford
    Member

    Lots of good info here, I would add that I use only 14 and 10 gauge wire. Larger dia. has less resistance and stays cooler. A 50 Amp Maxi fuse is a great idea.
     
  24. NOT...

    For the full rundown on "Rule of Thumb"

    I could not resist...

    Al
     
  25. 54vicky
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,599

    54vicky
    Member

    I am pretty sure he figured it out at least 4 years ago.
     
  26. The R stands for resistor and it is to by-pass the resistor on a 12 volt points ignition motor when the solenoid is excited, or in start mode only. It gives 12V to the ignition system to aid in starting. Once engine is started the 12V goes away and the motor runs on resisted electricity.

    The newer solenoids for motors with electronic ignition don't need the added boost at startup so some of the later solenoids have the R post dropped out. Makes the solenoid cheaper to manufacture.

    To wire the solenoid you run the positive cable from the battery to the large post on the solenoid, it should have a 5/8 nut on it. You then run a wire from your start switch or the start post on your ignition switch to the S post on the solenoid. When you supply 12V to the smaller S post it excites the solenoid and causes your starter to engage.

    LOL I somehow missed that someone had drug up an old thread. Well that was a total waste of my time.
     
    tfeverfred likes this.
  27. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,791

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

    Guys! It came out good! The car started great for the 8 years I owned it. Porknbeaner, you should know better!:p
     
  28. I will never understand why anyone would drag up a 900 year old thread. :confused:
     
    Johnny Gee likes this.
  29. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    ^^^^^ Then why did you reply ;) :D.
     
  30. upspirate
    Joined: Apr 15, 2012
    Posts: 2,299

    upspirate
    Member

    I feel that dragging up an old thread may not help the op , but someone that doesn't know the answer and didn't see the thread back when , will still benefit from the info:)
     

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