Grounding the battery

Ellis Kinney · Sep 17, 2012

A few weeks ago I was reading the messages and someone suggested grounding the battery directly to the starter mounting bolt. What a difference. I went from a slow crank to a new car crank speed. I would like to thank the person who recommended this quick fix. Ellis

The Red · Sep 17, 2012

I had that problem with one of the Hs I repainted in the very early 1990s. I overpainted and killed out the ground. Took me awhile to figure out why the lights wouldn't work!

John T · Sep 17, 2012

That sure works (Ive done it and also recommended it) HOWEVER it could well be cuz there was a bad/loose/carboned connection where the battery was grounded to the frame and/or it was grounded to a thin or rusty or poorly connected piece of sheet metal versus a solid heavy frame member..(Or perhaps the starter mount to frame isnt very good electrically which the cable direct would sure cure) After all a hugeeeeeeeee heavyyyyyyyyyy hunk of iron (if connections to it are good) can carry more current with less voltage drop then a piece of 2 gauge wire.

But as they say if it aint broke (i.e. your new direct to starter cable method) dont fix it lol

John T

Jon Hagen · Sep 17, 2012

All those joints (engine to starter nose, nose to field and field to end cap. All to get corroded and make a bad connection.

That is why the newer large Delco starters have the brushes in the end cap and a "ground " stud bolt directly on the end cap. That eliminates all those potential bad connections with both battery leads connected directly to the starter.

Grounding the battery

Ellis Kinney

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The Red

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John T

Well-known Member

Jon Hagen

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