nasty51ford Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 While looking my truck over yesterday, I was trying to figure out if it had been changed to a negative ground, since it has had an alternator installed, I followed the positive side of the battery cable to the solenoid, and the negative side battery cable, goes to the front of the starter. Is the front of the starter being used as the ground? As far as I can see, it looks like it is set up as a 12 volt starting system. But I was hoping to see one of the battery cables grounded to the frame, so now I'm still not sure! Lol B ut I would imagine that the lead going to the solenoid on the starter is the positive, and the one bolted to the front of the starter is the ground. Is this correct? Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Remove that negative cable from the terminal. Is the terminal isolated from the case? Or is it just a stud? If just a stud, then it IS negative ground. On my truck, both neg and pos go directly to the starter.I would install a good, heavy ground strap to the frame(if you don't find one). If not you might find you have issue later with lights and the such. Especially if you rely on some rusty little piece of 16ga wire that is currently in use somewhere on the truck. Better safe then sorry. Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39 Baby Mack Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 How many wires are on the starter?Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nasty51ford Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hi, there is NO ground to the frame right now, and no radio, or CB in the truck, and I haven't been able to get that close to the solenoid to tell how many wires going to it yet. When you mention the Negative cable from the terminal, are you referring to the terminal that it is attached to on the front of the starter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
other dog Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Mine has an alternator and it's positive ground. I had to put an alternator on it a few years ago and got a rebuilt positive ground one from a place in Roanoke for about $120. Quote Producer of poorly photo-chopped pictures since 1999. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freightrain Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Both my main battery cables go directly to the starter. The small soleniod in the cab just fires the big soleniod on the starter.I would trace all battery wires to confirm Quote Larry 1959 B61 Liv'n Large...................... Charter member of the "MACK PACK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nasty51ford Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 Hmmm, guess I'll have to get more "up close and personal" with it! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j hancock Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 If you have a test light handy, put the ground clip to the frame and see which battery terminal makes it light up.Always like to have several good grounds. Makes everything work sooo much better. Quote JimIt doesn't cost anything to pay attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryS Posted August 22, 2014 Share Posted August 22, 2014 Here's a picture showing the ground wires attached to the grounding stud on the starter motor. The smaller wires on that stud go to the cab. As mentioned you can't have too much ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nasty51ford Posted August 22, 2014 Author Share Posted August 22, 2014 good idea, I was thinking about how I could check it with a test light. That will definitely work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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