hard to start - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

gafiredog · 11-16-2016, 06:01 PM

A few months ago I had a thread talking about a 350 in my 78 dually being hard to start after it ran for a while 15 minutes or more. hard to start in the way of slow to turn over like a low battery. anyway, one of the members suggested i run a wire off one of the post on the starter to the ignition side of my dist. cap, and that extra wire would add more of a boost to fire the engine . I can't find the post anywhere, and does anyone know what I'm trying to explain? what post does the wire come off of on the starter. and what size should it be.

geezer#99 · 11-16-2016, 08:41 PM

Running a wire like that won't change it.
Your starter is heat soaked. You need to supply a full 12v to the starter. Make sure the starter cable is good, you have a good ground and the contacts are clean.
Or wire in a remote solenoid.
Like this.
http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/solenoid.htm

franken · 11-16-2016, 11:11 PM

Adding another part to a circuit the OP doesn't know how to troubleshoot is only going to make life harder in the end. Plus, its a rig job way to fix things. Probably better to test and try to locate the real problem.

The 2 big battery cables control current to the starter. Both cables should be good. New, or looks good do not mean good. The ground should go to the block.

Clean the battery terminals, and battery end of the cables.

Measure the battery voltage to the nearest tenth, start the truck and with it idling, measure the battery voltage again. Measure again at 2k RPM. Post the values.

A simple check is with jumper cables. Connect one cable to each end of the + cable. Test. Disconnect. Connect one cable to the battery - terminal and the other to the starter body. Test. Disconnect. Did anything change.

Another check is after cranking, feel the battery cables and connectors for hot spots, which are an indication that there's a poor connection or a bad spot in a cable.

I'll bet the above finds a low/bad battery, poor charging, poor connections, or bad cable, or poor placement. The other possibilities are too much advance, worn solenoid contacts, or the starter.

cadillac_al · 11-17-2016, 10:20 AM

It sounds like too much initial timing to me.

gafiredog · 11-18-2016, 06:40 PM

thanks guys for the info. as for timing, it starts just like it should when its cold. fires right up. only does this when its hot. thanks again.

11-16-2016, 06:01 PM	#1
gafiredog Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: metro Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 195	hard to start A few months ago I had a thread talking about a 350 in my 78 dually being hard to start after it ran for a while 15 minutes or more. hard to start in the way of slow to turn over like a low battery. anyway, one of the members suggested i run a wire off one of the post on the starter to the ignition side of my dist. cap, and that extra wire would add more of a boost to fire the engine . I can't find the post anywhere, and does anyone know what I'm trying to explain? what post does the wire come off of on the starter. and what size should it be. __________________ Art 1975 c-10 stepper 1978 single cab dually 1987 crewcab dually 1986 crewcab single wheel 1948 anglia- (the dixie twister super gas)

11-16-2016, 08:41 PM	#2
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,542	Re: hard to start Running a wire like that won't change it. Your starter is heat soaked. You need to supply a full 12v to the starter. Make sure the starter cable is good, you have a good ground and the contacts are clean. Or wire in a remote solenoid. Like this. http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/solenoid.htm

11-16-2016, 11:11 PM	#3
franken Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,068	Re: hard to start Adding another part to a circuit the OP doesn't know how to troubleshoot is only going to make life harder in the end. Plus, its a rig job way to fix things. Probably better to test and try to locate the real problem. The 2 big battery cables control current to the starter. Both cables should be good. New, or looks good do not mean good. The ground should go to the block. Clean the battery terminals, and battery end of the cables. Measure the battery voltage to the nearest tenth, start the truck and with it idling, measure the battery voltage again. Measure again at 2k RPM. Post the values. A simple check is with jumper cables. Connect one cable to each end of the + cable. Test. Disconnect. Connect one cable to the battery - terminal and the other to the starter body. Test. Disconnect. Did anything change. Another check is after cranking, feel the battery cables and connectors for hot spots, which are an indication that there's a poor connection or a bad spot in a cable. I'll bet the above finds a low/bad battery, poor charging, poor connections, or bad cable, or poor placement. The other possibilities are too much advance, worn solenoid contacts, or the starter.

11-17-2016, 10:20 AM	#4
cadillac_al Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Maine Posts: 2,354	Re: hard to start It sounds like too much initial timing to me. __________________ 76 Chevy K20 76 GMC K15 77 Chevy C10 77 Chevy K10

11-18-2016, 06:40 PM	#5
gafiredog Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Location: metro Atlanta, Ga. Posts: 195	Re: hard to start thanks guys for the info. as for timing, it starts just like it should when its cold. fires right up. only does this when its hot. thanks again. __________________ Art 1975 c-10 stepper 1978 single cab dually 1987 crewcab dually 1986 crewcab single wheel 1948 anglia- (the dixie twister super gas)



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