24v starter testing

circleburner12 · Post by **circleburner12** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:49 pm

i can the drive to kick in and turn, by touching the pos cable to the stud thats coming out of the body of the starter. but not by hooking it to the switch. i've taken the contacts on the switch and rotating them, but still cant get it to engage from the switch. any ideas???

Post by **wesk** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:20 pm

Am I missing a point here?

The drive on a stock M38 or M38A1 early or late starter only kicks in when the pedal moves it into the flywheel.

The electrical rotation of the starter motor occurs when the switch is finally engaged by the pedal at it's full travel.

The proper adjustment of the pedal throw determined when the switch is closed.

With the pedal at rest and power applied to the post on the starter then the only thing that happens is the starter motor rotates electrically and the drive remains retracted.

What happens when the switch is completely connected to the circuits and ignoring the pedal you simply close the switch by hand?

circleburner12 · Post by **circleburner12** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:47 pm

wesk, im trying to bench test the starter. when i hook the ground to the body of the starter and the hot to the switch and press the lever my hand nothing happens. but i can take the hot from the switch and touch it to the stud on the starter body, i can get the drive to rotate.

but by pressing the level by hand i can get the drive to engage and disengage but no rotation.

am i testing the starter the right way???

Post by **wesk** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:41 pm

Not a strict by the book testing but good enough.

You did not tell us which starter or which model jeep you have so the explanation will have to be much longer.

If you have the late starter (top of photo) then connect as shown and close switch by pushing directly on the plunger not the lever. If the starter turns then your lever travel is at fault or the contact adjustable bolt is adjusted too short.

Since the early starter (bottom of photo) has a completely enclosed switch plunger you must remove or back the adjusting contact bolt all the way out away from the starter motor then try actuating the lever.

By the way, if everyone would go to their profile page on this web site and add your jeep model designation to your signature function we would always know about which model you are asking for help on.

circleburner12 · Post by **circleburner12** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:23 pm

wesk it's an m38a1 starter. im thinking my contacts in the switch are worn out and not making good contact.

Post by **wesk** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:00 pm

So are you saying when you follow the directions in the top of the photo above the electric motor does not turn?

circleburner12 · Post by **circleburner12** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:10 pm

thats correct wesk, took it apart and the contacts seem to be worn pretty good.