VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 Jump start

Again this rookie ask for help. My 28 truck would not start, (I later found the problem a broken cable)I was afraid to get a jump from a 12 volt battery thinking it would ruin something. I had the truck towed home. Was I correct or not. Several people have told me to change to a 12 volt system. What are your thoughts, and is it difficult to do.

Hi dateshake,

This subject has been battered around the site almost from day one. I suggest you do some searches and read those comments.

In the mean time you have already discovered the problem had nothing to do directly with 6 or 12 volts. Switching is a personal preference. It is very simple to do but, why? My advice is stay with the 6-volt as it will perform satisfactorily.

As to jump starting with 12 volts, you can do the search and read the pros and cons on that subject alone with the cautions.

If the cable was one supplying current and voltage to the ignition as well as the starter, a jump would not have solved your problem...But a 12Volt jump will be ok if you remove the 12 volt as soon as you get a start or turn it over 15 seconds. As to changing to a 12 volt system, it looks like in your case it would be immaterial as to whether you have a 6volt, a 12 volt or a 24 volt system. To me changing to a 12 volt system is about the same type of a modification as changing fron the four cylinder engine to a 350 V/8, It makes your car a "Modified" .
If you has some capacity in the battery and current to the ignition why not try the hand crank or get a push start? A 28 will usually only need a slow roll. I have had some good luck with a short roll backward, in reverse gear and the clutch in, set the spark to full retard and some hand throttle, And when the truck is rolling let out the clutch, and as soon as the truck fires quickly push the clutch back down. Or if you can get it rolling forward do the same in second gear. I have used this method to start my 28 when I roll it out of the trailer, after the battery is too low to turn the engine over fast enough to get a start. For those that say you can break an axle doing this, not if you are careful not to suddenly snap the clutch .

In my limited '28 experience, I would advise sticking with the 6 volt system. Providing all components in your system are in reasonable shape, there really is no reason to switch.
I did have some problems with starting after fitting a new battery that just did not have enough cold cranking amps to do the job.
Fit the biggest battery you can to your car, keep it in reasonable tune (plugs, points etc) and you should be fine and will have a vehicle of higher value to boot.
I wonder how many vehicles have been switched to 12 volts merely to mask other problems?
My '28 has also proved to be ridiculously easy to hand crank, often starting even as I turn it over to a better cranking position. Just do not forget to retard that spark!
Tim.

Tim I do agree about the six volt system and also about the hand cranking, and my Dad would pull a car with a chain and a truck even with a dead battery to start it, with a generator it got enough electricity to start after pulling it a few hundred feet in gear (usually second)

Definitely keep the six volt system, and use a six volt battery that has at least 600 or more CCA (Cold Cranking Amps).

Why change from what the car came with when it was new just do some home work, and do ask for help if you need it. I have ben asking for assistance with our old Chevrolets sinse 1966. With good cables and a good battery and every thing connected up you should have no problems at all. Enjoy your Chevrolet.

Thanks for the responces, I don't know what I would do with out your help. I will keep it 6 volt. The crank is now in the truck (da).

Good on you....!

Dateshake, you made my day with your decision to keep your Chevrolet as it was when it was new. I have hand cranked our 1930, and have cranked the 490 and the 1923 just remember to put your thumb on the correct side of the crank handle, and retard the spark.

mackie,

thanks for pointing out the issue of potentially breaking an axle while bump starting...this hadn't occurred to me as a possibility...I bump start frequently to save wear & tear on the battery, starter, switch, etc...guess I should be more careful in the future...


epi

Having grown up in the '50's with mostly '30's and '40's model cars and trucks the "hill starter" was very common. Most of us could not afford a new battery very often so we would park on a hill or downgrade so we could start our car without using the starter. I have done this many many times and never broke an axle or damaged anything else. If you go forward,which is the way to do it if you can,use second gear and it will work every time if your cars is in decent shape.
As far as changing from 6 volt to 12 volt I will agree with the rest that there is no benefits as far as I know. I have never changed 6 to 12. I am a firm believer in original. You do have to have a heavy cable and a good ground. A good 6 volt battery with lots of CCA. Of course the starter has to be in good shape.
If you treat your Chevrolet right it will treat you right. Keep up the post on VCCA chat.
JIM

grinch,

what do you mean about keeping the thumb on the correct side of the crank?..


epi

Chevrolet, It is to keep from seperating your thumb from the fingers when the engine "kicks back" keep the thumb on the side with the fingers, don't grab the cranking handle like you would grab a hammer. As walt also knows, it is the same when "Proping" an airplane engine.

I thought I would put that in about breaking an axle for the 28 Chevrolet folks,since they are "supposed" to break axles rather easily, I have never broken an axle except a Model "A" and a IH Scout, both powered by four cylinder engines, and a GMC Diesel dump truck. The GMC was by far the easier of the three to do an axle replacement on.

MrMack, I think that you put the answer to the thumb question better than I could have, there are other thing to be aware of when hand cranking an old car how you stand when you crank the car I have heard of some people getting a broken leg when the car back fires because they were in a hurry and forgot to retard the spark, and they were standing too close to the radiator. So just do not be in a hurry and enjoy the tim riding in you vintage Chevrolet.

I'm sure the youngsters on the forum can't relate to my story, however the seasoned citizens will understand.

Push starting by one vehicle to the stalled vehicle was accomplished by placeing the front and rear bumpers together. The rear car then gave a shove to the stalled vehicle. The seasoned driver of the stalled car knew to wait until the pushing vehicle had broken contact and then would POP the clutch in second gear and the vehicle would start.

All was well until the Power Glide appeared on the scene in the early 50's. In order to start the PG by push starting you had to achieve 25 MPH or so before the PG would turn over the engine and have it start. So as the story goes the fellow with the PG is stalled and needs a shove. Along came a driver in a F * * D and offered help. The PG driver briefed the F * * D driver that it had to be at 25 or more MPH for it to start. The driver of the F * * D turned around and started back up the road, turned around again, and to every ones amazement, approached the stalled PG at 25 MPH. I think you get the picture.

In addition to the thumb advise and having a good solid stance you should always put the crank handle at the bottom (closest to the ground) and only pull up on the crank to start the car; if it backfires the crank will be yanked out of your hand; if you try to crank pushing down on the crank and it backfires you can get your arm broken when it kicks back up.

That guy in the F0RD push car wasn't by chance an Aggie was he? He just knew this was going to be different! They probably also locked bumpers, I bet the young ones haven't ever bounced the cars to unlock the bumpers either!

Gator pointed out the other important thing about hand cranking, half way around starting at the bottom is the correct way.

Let's see
16 years old, ("the Old Man can't know all that stuff")
Broken wrists, & Hot Summers don't mix well when you're 16, (or any other age I suspect).

Dan.

thanks...great stuff, guys...

think I'll continue to bump start...I like my wrists just fine...


epi

Dan, sounds like you have been there and done that. I guess experience is the best teacher but I would think this is one experience you would not want to learn this way...

The itching under the old plaster of Paris cast can drive you crazy in the summertime; mine was a broken leg in the summer of '58 by a bike versus wet concrete.

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Hand cranking a car is sorta a cool thing to do; people don't see it often today.

Make sure you use a Chevy crank (w/o socket) and not a Furd (w/socket).

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I kinda like those cranking tools they used on those Indy cars, the one that looks like a big air impact wrench, I wonder if the guys at J.C. Whitney or Harbour Freight have thought about marketing a 18 volt version ?....ZINNNGieZING...VAROOOOM!

The kids that race the lawn mower dragsters use this system also.