Author Topic: Mini Starter Wiring  (Read 2506 times)

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Offline wildcat65

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Mini Starter Wiring
« on: January 01, 2013, 06:27:51 PM »
I have a mini starter from Russ and was wondering if anyof us are using one already

If so, what is the best way to handle the wiring?  Its only got the Power Terminal and  Solenoid...
What shall I do for the Yellow Wire?
Ted Nagel         65 Skylark GS 4-speed + Wildcats + GS's

Offline Brian

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Re: Mini Starter Wiring
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2013, 08:05:59 AM »
Yellow wire is to feed 12V to the coil when cranking so it has a hotter spark (coil is fed 9V through a resistance wire during normal operation).  Car will run without that wire connected, but will be harder to start--especially in cold weather.  This is all assuming you have point ignition in your car.  If you converted to a electronic ignition system, that wire is not doing anything anyway. 
'64 Skylark 2dr ht 4 speed, 300-4
'65 GS ht, 4 speed,2-4s,AC,PS,PB,PW,Pseat,Tilt
'66 Skylark 2dr ht 300-2 automatic
'78 Yamaha DT 400 2 stroke
'88 Ford F-150 4x4 (used to be 4x2)
'89 Ford F-350 4x4
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Offline WkillGS

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Re: Mini Starter Wiring
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2013, 09:28:31 AM »
Without the yellow wire, I don't think the coil will have any power while cranking. I would have to test mine to see if that is true.

Anyway,
Russ mentioned adding a diode to connect to the yellow wire in the harness for systems that use a points distributor.

Here's more info from the Powermaster site:
http://www.powermastermotorsports.com/faq-starter.html

>>>What do I do with the wire that went to the "R" terminal on the original starter?
   
In early original wiring harnesses, the "R" circuit was a ballast resistor bypass. This terminal is no connection when the starter is at rest, and is +12VDC while cranking.This circuit provided +12VDC to the ignition coil during cranking for easier engine starting.
Cars that do not have a ballast resistor (i.e. HEI, MSD, or other aftermarket ignition systems) should not need this connection. In most cases, this wire can be eliminated. If the engine has no ignition during cranking, then the wiring of the coil is going to require an "R" terminal signal. To accomplish this, connect a 3A/400PIV diode (or Powermaster part # 600 ) in line with the MOTOR SIDE of the solenoid. (Note: This is the terminal on the solenoid which has the cable from inside the starter motor connected to it. It is opposite the BATTERY terminal on the solenoid. The cathode or banded end of the diode goes away from the starter. This allows current to go from the starter to the coil and yet not from the coil to the starter.)<<<

You can buy the wire kit from Russ for $15,
Powermaster wire from Jegs for  $22:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Powermaster/713/600/10002/-1?parentProductId=755522
or buy the diode from Radio Shack, $1.99:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062579

BTW, A mini starter from Tom Telesco has the correct 3 wire solenoid, no diodes necessary! :icon_biggrin:

Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline wildcat65

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Re: Mini Starter Wiring
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2013, 09:40:43 AM »
Cool, I have a electronic distributor so that yellow is redundant.
Thanks,  :headbang:
Ted Nagel         65 Skylark GS 4-speed + Wildcats + GS's

Offline telriv

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Re: Mini Starter Wiring
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2013, 10:29:18 PM »
I'm sure you will find Ted that there is NOT 12 volts in the crank position, so you will NEED the diode.


                                          Tom T.
Classic & Muscle Automotive
C/O Tom Telesco
12 Cook St.
Norwalk, Ct. 06853-1601
Daytime phone:
203-324-6045
No answer: leave message, will call back
E-Mail: telriv@yahoo.com

Offline WkillGS

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Re: Mini Starter Wiring
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2013, 11:40:30 PM »
Good point Tom.
Ted, what distributor are you using? You might have to bypass the factory resistor wire, not all electronic dizzys can run on the 9 volts that it supplies.
Walt K
Eastern Pa

66 GS Astro Blue/blue 425 auto
66 GS Silver Mist/black 401 4 spd
66 GS Flame Red/black 401 5 spd
66 GS Saddle Mist/black 401 L76 auto
66 Special Flame Red/black 300 5 spd
65 GS vert Verde Green/ Saddle buckets 401 4 spd
79 Turbo Regal

Offline wildcat65

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Re: Mini Starter Wiring
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2013, 07:01:40 AM »

 :BangHead:   Pertronix distributor ... This has not been powered yet, but on my 65 sedan I got power for the Crane distributor from the transmission solenoid/ kick down Wire.   Yellow wire was still hooked up to the starter.

I'll get the wire from Russ for this but this is still unclear.   I've got a pertronix in the 65 GS engine.  I need to do this right.
Ted Nagel         65 Skylark GS 4-speed + Wildcats + GS's