Re: Henry's 55 Constellation

Posted by HH56 On 2008/9/15 14:15:28

Sounds like missing a connection or two.

If you hear both solenoids, then the limit switch is OK. All it does is open one or another set of contacts that would drop out the solenoid for that direction. The switch bar has a spring which keeps it centered, and when one of the transverse links touch it, it moves to one side or the other and opens that contact.

The solenoids & motor get power from the red wire, and when you use the starter sw on A or B, that completes circuit to solenoids so they energize and would provide power to the motor. It sounds like the motor as you describe the hookup has no ground. Please correct me if I misunderstood the hookup, but with no ground on motor, no action. How are you hooking up when driving directly?

The other missing connection is the lt green wire that goes to middle terminal on control switch. It would normally get power from brake light switch and enables the control switch to work. Right now, we can forget that one since you're just trying to move the motor--that circuit is not necessary now with the starter switch.

I would get a jumper cable, connect pos on battery to car chassis, connect red wire to neg battery terminal and use the starter switch between chassis and A or B on control switch.

I would not have the car dipped without removing everything but will bow to others opinions who might have more experience with the process. Not sure of the dip chemicals but there are lots of rubber bushings, bearing and things that would probably be destroyed. There is no way to remove the bushings and pieces without unloading the bars and removing them which takes special tools. I had my frame media blasted, but still removed everything--fortunately I had access to the tools.