Thick starter cable melting!

(Quote)This is true even in California(Quote)

Kamel: Are you sure of this? I lived the first 54 years of my life there and nothing suprises me!! R)

 

California --- you may be right

I know they have tried to repeal some of the laws of economics.

I think that they wanted to legislate that Pi is 3.1 instead of being an irrational number.

I think I may have been a little too hasty when I claimed that the laws of mathematics would apply in California.

 

Kamel: You know that Pi is an indeterminate and irrational number. Well, that just won't sit in CA. It's too "un PC"! R)

Remember, this is the State that is trying to outlaw the use of the term "slave cylinder". :?

 

I don,t know about the alignment of the planets but how is the starter aligned? I wouldn't be binding would it? Just a thought.
Jeff

 

...but is it true in Ohio???

I'm at a loss about the cable because it worked fine a month ago before the V6 froze up. I didn't touch it--why would it suddenly be bad? I'm liking Glenn's idea that this V6 may be less worn than the other one. Hope that's the case, lol. They're both Buick Specials.

The battery registered over 10 volts, so right now it's on a trickle charger. Will try to fire 'er up tomorrow with a full batt, and will find a way to test that voltage drop solo. Thanks for all input; this has been a very helpful thread.

-Alan (former CA resident )

 

Thanks for the idea. I bench tested the starter (both starters) and they were ok, even though not under load. I did clean out some acorn shells in there while on the bench, lol. Both are known working starters, despite being full of peanuts and rats nests inside the bell, so I dunno. Next is a voltage drop test when the key is turned (suggested by mruta).

I still don't know what that 3rd, unused solenoid post is for. Anybody?? Is that a separate ground?

Thanks again all. :stout:
-Alan

 

Whoa, somehow I missed your post until now. I gots ALL the brew a brother could need ('cept maybe for James P., the dude's prolly got a serious tolerance, LOL R) ). But I'm 6 hrs away. Come by only if you like beer, a couch to crash on, CJ parts, and driving a couple ECJ-5s around my 10-acre property.

But actually, mruta, I'm going to be in your neck of the woods next Wednesday or Thursday (June 29 or 30). I'm headed to Des Moines along Rt. 80. Care if I stop by?

Brian, you got it right on. That one small terminal goes to "nuttin" on all 3 of my V6s. I just wondered if the absence of anything hooking up to it might have been responsible for my probs. Anyone else know what it's for?? Is this the question that stumps all V6 gurus??

 

On the solenoid, the third mystery terminal is not used in the jeep application.

It probably wasn't even there in the original configuration, but at some time it was replaced and the replacement had it.

That mystery terminal was used in 72 and later jeeps.

No worries on the terminal - even in Ohio.

k-man

 

You're more than welcome to stop by any time! If you're not strapped for time, we could easily take a ride to the most insane collection of Jeep parts I have ever seen- it's about 30 minutes from me. It would be nice if my Jeep were together by the time you come over but that just ain't happening. Let me know....

 

Never thought to actually check when it's "hot". Good idear.

When the V6 was on the bench, I timed it via cranking. Not the best way, but when it fired up it ran like a top. For some reason it turns very slow now. Today's the day I swap out cables, and the battery's been on a trickle charge overnight.

mruta: Heck yeah! I'll send you a PM.
-Alan

 

Ok, I installed a brand new cable to the starter and charged up the battery. It churned over slow, but did catch and ran like a top for about 30 seconds until white smoke came spewing out the valve cover breather and dipstick (I didn't notice any out the exhaust...maybe an exhaust valve stuck?). When I turned the key off, it stopped immediately, leading me to believe that something's stuck inside.

Oh, I don't have any coolant in there. I only wanted to test the V6 for a bit before fillin' 'er up with H20/coolant, but now I'm leery because of these probs. Any clues? I did take a pic of the thick white smoke spewage (with my spankin' new Vivitar digicam). I'll post it soon.

 

I don't know what hydro-lock is.?? Only thing I can think of is that when I bench tested the engine, I flushed out the block with a hose. A couple weeks passed before installing it, so maybe something rusted inside. But yet it ran since, and ran easily. Can't seem to start it as if something's binding inside that gets worse with heat. Doesn't make sense; no consistent clues otherwise. After starting once, it churned too slow to start again after 20+ attempts. Seems like it'd only start if I jump-started it while rolling down a hill. What's going on!!!!

Having probs now with the new digicam upload driver... :evil:

 

Glenn: I stuck a hose in the therm housing (sans therm). Flushed block; water ran out the water pump hose. That's what I meant by flushing it. The timing might be off, but when it ran it ran well for the 30 seconds, including revving it. I'm confused how poor timing would cause it to not turn over? No I don't know the history of the engine, 'cept that it was installed on a Willys frame.

Lynn: I did have good OP on the bench, which is what gave me the OK to install it in the tux. Since then I did swap distributors....removed the Delco in favor of Prestolite. Ha ha that should have been a sign that things would turn south. Haven't checked for OP since, thanks for the tip. Once it turns over a couple quick turns, she fires right up. Just can't get 2 good quick revolutions all at once.

I did install a new clutch, PP, and pilot bushing since it ran well. V6-to-tranny mating after that was a bear. To tight a pilot bushing?? Looked just like the one that came out, and tranny's in neutral. When it stops, it stops NOW. Hmm, might have to figure out how to do a compression test.

Thanks for the help guys. Despite frustrations, I'm actually enjoying the hard lessons. Teaches me patience and persistence (and temper-tantrum quelling ). It's prolly something silly; we'll track it down eventually.
-Alan