New battery, starts perfectly even when hot. NAPA had tested the bad battery, and claimed it was good. That wasn't the case. Spent $100 on the starter rebuild, and $60 on the pro-rated battery, so it wasn't too bad.

Good info, Ross. Thanks.

I have access to one of those clamp meters, but have never used one. Do you just clamp it over one of the battery cables while starting to get a reading? What setting should the dial be on?

I wonder if one of those Fluke clamp meters would work?

Going to try a new battery today. NAPA is going to replace it at the pro-rated price of 49 bucks. I'll let you all know how that works out.

Ross, the car takes longer to start when hot, after driving and stopping. It didn't spin any faster after the starter repair, but started right away. I'm still thinking the battery is bad, since I boiled most of the water out over the summer when I wasn't driving it because of the radiator.

The reason I put a six-volt tender on it was for the same reason- I wasn't driving it much at all, and the battery I bought in 2012 only lasted two years. I can now drive it regularly, and I'm not putting the tender on it.

I don't think I had this problem before, when I had the first battery, at least until it went bad.

John, the fields were not worn from the armature touching them, but from the insulation coming apart with age. Replaced as a precaution. The bearings/bushing were fine.

I knew someone would ask me that question. Both proper size 00 (double ought). All connections cleaned and surfaces wire brushed. The only thing I can think of is the battery must be bad. For some reason the NAPA tester said it was good. Maybe their tests don't work properly with 6 volt batteries.

It did get low on water this summer, in the heat of my shop, with the Battery Tender maintaining it.

Well, I thought it was the starter. Spent $100 today having it rebuilt- it was found to have some wear on the fields, and a brush was possibly grounding out. Armature was fine. New field coils. Installed it and went for a drive to warm it up. Same problem- when starting hot, battery runs down before it will start. NAPA tested the battery, and their machine said it was okay. I'm thinking now I may have a bad cell, or the wrong battery. Tested with a volt meter, and it drops to 2 volts when trying to start. NAPA 7248, CCA 875 @ 0?F, CA 1035 @ 32?F.

Good idea. I had attached a mechanical gauge, but it was in the engine compartment. I couldn't see it while driving. I put the original sending unit back, but it's a little disconcerting driving around with zero showing on the dash.

Never mind- found it here:
https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/SC/SC-VOL20NO9.pdf