Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

My 1948 Packard with a Carter carburator has the "Carstarter" or throttle activated starter. My problem is that it will still activate the starter after the engine is running. I have read and understand the manufacturers information on how it's supposed to work. In my case, after the engine starts it does not always "suck up" the steel ball that acts as the link between the throttle shaft and the electrical switch. In addition as you accelerate the manifold vacuum drops (normal) and the ball falls back down. It should be blocked by the throttle shaft but falls thru allowing it to activate the starter while running.
It appears the steel ball in my car is of too small a diameter.
Does anyone know what size it should be?

Not offhand but except for a couple of 54 carbs without the accelerator start, the same 393937 ball is used across the range of those models listed in parts manual. Should be the same diameter on all Packards. If someone has an old carb apart that they could throw a micrometer on the ball, it might be something nice to know.

One thing I would wonder is why the vacuum is dropping so low and is there a possibility the air filter or screen at the bottom of the ball passage is blocked enough that there is not enough air flow for the vacuum to work with.

Update.
I took the starter switch on the carburator apart looking at it with the ball size in mind. The parts the ball works with are similar sized. I believe the ball is of correct size. The screen below is clean. I will continue to think this one over.

I have a carburetor on the bench. I'll measure the ball tomorrow.

The ball is 3/8". The key factor in the complaint you mention is that the notch on the plunger must face UP. The switch will start the car with the notch down, but won't let the ball go up to its home. Thus the switch will activate when the engine is running, and there will also be a vacuum leak, sometimes audible.

That's one invention that didn't need to be invented. Glad it went away. Mine was bypassed and I like it that way.

Probably no worse than Nash in the gearshift handle or Chevy under the clutch. Buick had a love affair with them as well. If nothing else they were very reliable and if they did fail on the road, you could at least jump them easily by just removing one wire and touching it to the other.

Fish'n Jim, how was it bypassed on your car? I have no key so I was thinking of just getting a normal ignition switch, wondering if there are other ways to do it other than mounting a seperate starter button?

Ever wonder how many of these Packards and Buicks were sent to an early demise by these devices? In our family, as observed and remembered, an older driver would turn the ignition key, press the accelerator pedal and hold it as the engine started and revved. Could not be a nice thing to do to a cold and un-lubed engine. A starter button or ignition switch starter seems so much more humane.

Cheez folks, I use these things all the time. Like what is the problem? The car starts and you take your foot off the gas and it falls to the idle set by the automatic choke. They are great if you stall at a light or backing into a space, they insure the choke sets on a cold start and that the throttle is open enough for a hot start.

Plus you can say abracadabra as you push the gas and explain to the uninitiated that the car starts by voice recognition.