Starting System - Cadillac 60 Series 1963 Shop Manual

12-
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5. A light application of oil or grease on the
clamp terminals is recommended.
8. Care of Batteries Not In Use
Batteries in cars that are being stored require
special care to prevent plate sulphation or other
deterioration due to inactivity.
Before a wet charged battery is stored, an in-
spection should be made to see that it is filled
to the proper level and that it is fully charged
(1.250-1.280).
Batteries in storage should be checked every
two weeks and recharged at least every 30 days,
or whenever the specific gravity is below 1.240.
STARTING SYSTEM
9. Starter Motor Circuit
The starter motor is engaged when the ignition
key is turned to the extreme right position. En-
gagement is obtained by means of a solenoid,
Fig. 12-7, attached to the starter housing. The
solenoid first engages the starter pinion with the
flywheel gear and then closes the main switch
so that battery current is delivered to the starter
motor.
The solenoid is drawn into the engaged position
by both the pull-in coil and the hold-in coil, and
held in position by the hold-in coil only, while
the ignition key is held in the extreme right posi-
tion, Fig. 12-7. The contact bar at the end of the
solenoid completes a direct circuit between the
battery and the starter motor, energizing the
starter motor and shorting out the pull-in coil.
The current consumption of the solenoid switch
should be 40-50 amperes at 10 volts for both wind-
ings, and 10-12 amperes at 10 volts for the hold-
in winding alone.
10. Starter Motor Maintenance
Lubrication—Whenever the starter motor is dis-
assembled for service, place a few drops of light
engine oil on the bushings in the end bearings.
Avoid excessive libruication, as this might force
lubricant out onto the commutator where it would
gum and cause high resistance, resulting in poor
Neutral Switch
Ace.
B o t t e r y
Starting Motor
starter motor performance. Never oil the com-
mutator.
11. Starter Motor Circuit
Resistance Test
a. Battery Cable and Starter Switch Test-
Insulated Circuit Test
This test measures the resistance of the cables
and switches that feed the starter motor. The
heavy current used by the starter motor will pro-
duce a voltage drop in the wiring which can be
measured as an indication of this resistance. The
battery should be fully charged.
1. Disconnect primary lead of distributor from
coil so engine will not start.
CAUTION: Do not remove high tension lead
from coil center for this purpose, as this may
damage the coil due to internal arcing.
2. Using Battery Starter Tester, turn voltmeter
selector switch to 16 volt scale.
3. Connect solenoid starter "clicker
1
and test leads as shown in Fig. 12-8.
switch
Fig. 12-7 Starting Circuit Diagram
4. Connect positive voltmeter lead to center of
positive battery post, on which insulated battery
cable is connected. Connect negative voltmeter
lead to starting motor terminal.
5. Close solenoid starter "clicker" switch, and
turn voltmeter to 4 volt scale while cranking. Ob-
serve reading, and immediately turn meter back
to 16 volt scale.
6. Voltmeter should show .3 of a volt or less
while engine is being cranked. If voltage drop is
more than .3 of a volt, it is an indication that the
cables or connections are dirty or corroded, the
solenoid switch is defective, the battery is in a
low state of charge, the starter motor is drawing
too much current, or that the engine is too tight.
7. If voltage drop across the entire insulated
side of the battery starter circuit exceeds the spe-
cified .3 volt, test the individual parts of the in-
sulated circuit for excessive resistance. Maximum
voltage drop for each should not exceed the fol-
lowing specifications: