[Healeys] Starter Solenoid Question

[Skip Saunders]

Just a small nit.... My BJ8 is unrestored,  I was just looking at the
solenoid and the large lead from the battery is on the terminal closest to
the chassis, and the large lead to the starter is on the terminal closest to
the engine.... As I was looking at it, I was sort of struck by how "logical"
that seemed to me, since it allowed the lead to the battery to be dressed
tightly to the chassis all the way from the back of the car to its
termination at the solenoid...whereas if it had been on the outer (engine
side) solenoid terminal, the cable would be catching a bit more air...

Of course "logical" probably wasn't behind how my car was wired...lol...it
is Lucas afterall.  In any case, since I'm pretty sure the cables are
original, I'm wondering if the "usually" sentence below has the leads
reversed for concours cars?

Not that it matters much to me, I'm using the BJ8 as a driver, and will
probably do so until I finish my project car (a BJ7) and turn the BJ7 into
my "far from concours driver"...lol...But perhaps concours people would have
a concern about the cable/solenoid hookup?   ... and an inquiring (my) mind
wishes to know the "correct" wiring.  

Thanks
-skip- 

-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Bob Spidell
Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 12:24 AM
To: PhilRitten at aol.com
Cc: healeys-request at autox.team.net; healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Starter Solenoid Question

Not sure about this question--never heard of a solenoid on a Healey
clutch--but 
there's 4 wires to the starter solenoid:

- 'hot,' heavy gauge cable from the battery
- heavy gauge cable to the starter
- semi-heavy, 'hot,' (12-14 gauge) wire from the hot terminal to the
regulator
- small gauge wire from the starter switch that energizes the solenoid

Usually, the hot lead to the battery on the terminal closest to the engine,
and 
the lead to the starter is closest to the chassis.  The brown wire to the 
regulator should be on the same terminal as the battery lead.

When doing this work, you should turn the battery cutoff switch to 'off.'
If 
you don't trust the switch then disconnect the ground cable at the battery.


Bob