New Build Slow Crank Hot Cables

[onetricpony]

Just trying to finish up restoration. rebuilt motor and transmission. Just drilled out ignition and installed new key cylinder and ignition switch. Ignition problem or park neutral problem because key won't turn motor over so I'm jumping solenoid. first time I did it solenoid smoked so I've cleaned paint from behind solenoid, sanded it down to bare metal, installed new solenoid as well as new bolts. Now, no more smoke but slow turning over and the cables get hot. Pos cable from solenoid to battery gets warm. Pos cable connecting to starter is quite a bit warmer right at the starter connection. Starter is new.

I have sanded all grounds to bare metal. I did make a new ground wire from back of the starter bolt using 4 guage stranded wire (encased wire) does it matter which starter bolt on the end of the starter I use for ground?

I have the neg battery cable grounded to the block (sanded to bare metal) and I"m sharing that same ground spot with the starter. I did remove this ground to sand better and I switched the ground cables on that bolt, I put the neg battery cable up against the block and now it does actually turn over a couple revolutions now but that's it. You guys think this starter is bad? It came with the car but was never installed.

I have the old distributor installed (minus the cam gear) and I'm attempting to prime the motor with oil before I stab the distributor and try to start it

Thanks

 

[horse sence]

It could be a bad ground or a bad starter .A new motor may be a bit tight the first few times it is started also .Make sure the engine block has a ground from the motor to the body ,usually at the back of the head and attached to the fire wall .
Yes do prime the motor very well before starting .
Also check the starter solenoid wires and be sure they are on the correct post .
The key problem could be the neutral safety switch wires coming out of the fire wall ,make sure they are clean and connected well at the plug in.

 

[onetricpony]

Yes, the ground is there (back of head to firewall) took it off to day and sanded both ends to bare metal. Does it matter which bolt on the end of the starter I use for ground? for the starter ground I just bought some 4 guage stranded wire at home depot and put some good connectors on each end. it is shielded cable (standard 4 gauge electrical wire) does that matter? Starter is grounded to the same place on the block the neg cable connects, can they share this connection?

 

[horse sence]

Yes, the ground is there (back of head to firewall) took it off to day and sanded both ends to bare metal. Does it matter which bolt on the end of the starter I use for ground? for the starter ground I just bought some 4 guage stranded wire at home depot and put some good connectors on each end. it is shielded cable (standard 4 gauge electrical wire) does that matter? Starter is grounded to the same place on the block the neg cable connects, can they share this connection?

The ground should be fine where it is ,normally it just grounds to the back of the motor so you should be well grounded .Is the starter new ,even though i have seen new starters that were bad ?

 

[horse sence]

What amp battery do you have it may not be enough to handle the load
from a new tight motor ? And is it fully charged ?

 

[onetricpony]

Not sure on the battery amps, it's new and I charged it last night. Starter is new but I'm thinking it fried when the solenoid smoked

 

[onetricpony]

Pos battery cable gets warm, pos wire at the starter gets hot

 

[horse sence]

Does the motor turn easily with the plugs out ? It just may be to tight .
it should turn fairly easy with no plugs.

 

[onetricpony]

No, it doesn't turn over easily at all. it's been a month or so since it was built

 

[horse sence]

That could be the problem .It should turn easily with the plugs out, with some drag .

 

[onetricpony]

could be I guess. a little oil in the cylinders?

 

[horse sence]

I would prime the motor very well ,remove the plugs ,and spray some light weight oil in the cylinders but not a lot .Two stroke oil would work .
spin it with the starter just enough to see it will spin ,oil will spray out of the plug holes so you will need to put paper towls by each hole .Put the plugs back and go through the proper fire up procedure if it turns enough to start .

 

[horse sence]

The problem is ,is it to tight in the crank and bearings ,or to tight in the piston clearance ?Or is it just dry in the cylinders ?

 

[onetricpony]

I'm priming it with the old distributor so the engine has to turn over to prime but I'll pick up some two stroke oil and turn it over and see if that helps might be on the right track here. I pulled the starter so I'll get it tested while it's out

 

[onetricpony]

it is odd that it started turning over a little better after I messed with the battery/starter ground though

 

[horse sence]

Do not try to prime it by turning it over ,you need to pull the dist. and use a priming shaft .the motor will stay at top dead center if you pull the dist. out at top dead center, just put the dist. back after primed . The motor needs to turn at about 2000 RPMs for about 20 minutes when it starts to break in the cam properly. If you have an old dist. you can take the shaft out of it and knock the advance mechanism off ,it makes a perfect priming tool ,just remember it turns counter clockwise to prime .
if you do not feel a quick resistance in the drill you are probably turning the wrong way. Be careful not to pull the oil pump drive out when you remove the priming shaft .

 

[onetricpony]

Ok so take the shafts out of the distributor? I knew about 2000 rpm for 20 min. Got the Lucas break in additive already in the oil as well

 

[horse sence]

Dont take it out of your good dist . make sure you use an old dist haha just making sure

 

[horse sence]

One thing you DO NOT want to use is a socket on an extension to prime a motor ,i can pretty well guarantee the socket will stay on the oil pump drive shaft when you pull the extension out, and that will be a BIG problem

 

[onetricpony]

Ha. Yeah using the old one. Got a new hei going in. I can see why using a socket would be a problem