A Solenoid Question

[Phil Waterman]

The 6volt solenoids with button are very common to Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury of the forties and fifties. Though, they are designed for different voltages I’ve seen the 6 volt work well on cars converted to 12 volt. Not sure of the other way around.

My 49 Lincoln has two of them one for the starter and one for the hydraulic pump for the windows. The biggest advantage of the button is for checking a starting problem is battery really not turning over or is the ignition switch at fault. I think the button was done away with in the fifties because it was possible to start the car in gear from under the hood if the key was left on. Also, it did make the cars very easy to hot wire the car.

I’ve only had one of these fail and it was on my 89 Ford Taurus the wire for the solenoid coil broke of inside the case. Started the car with a pair of pliers connecting the two side terminals with the handles, when I got home drilled out the two rivets holding the end cap on and re-soldered the lead until I could get a replacement.