1944 M start problem

Trouble is some battery n ground cables might look good to the eye but have carbon from arcing built up underneath where you cant see it.

The try her and if the battery voltage drops drastically and/or the lights go wayyyyy yyy down when you try n start her I suspect the starter is bad or else mechanically stuck/jammed into the flywheel like Jim mentioned. If the starter has that classic hot electrical burned smell, that may well be the problem.

HOWEVER if all the cables n grounds n connections are okay and the starters NOT stuck and the lights dont hardly dim or battery voltage drop when you try n crank her, I suspect the starter switch is bad n all burned n carboned inside. Its been too long since I owned M's but if the switch is bad see if its possible to by pass jump around it using a jumper cable from the hot ungrounded battery post or the battery side of the starter switch direct to the starter (if its physically possible to get there) n see if she cranks then. If she crank when you by pass jump around the starter switch, the switch is the problem.

I gotta go with a bad cable or connection or ground first thing,,,,, ,,,, then a bad starter switch if all else is okay n the starters not mechanically jammed/stuck into the flywheel which Jim told ya how to cure.

If its NOT a cable or connection or switch problem and the lights dont dim much when cranking and the starters NOT hot smelling, Id suspect the starter brushes may be worn down which aint all that hard or expensive to fix. If it draws excess current (lights dim badly) n smells hot teh armature may be dragging cuz of worn bushings (expensive fix if armature shot)

I like 00 gauge cables on 6 volt systems and a big super duty high rated battery

let us know

John T

If the lights do not dim, the starter may be open. Hit the end of the starter with a sharp rap of a plastic faced mallet. and try it. If it works now, it needs brushes and bushings.

If the lights do not work, and they once did there is a bad connection. Go through them all to bright and shiny. Check all cables, they go bad internally. Good luck, JimN