6 Volt Battery and an OLD car

[Mello]

This may be a daft question, but I'm new to the world of 6 volts...

If my new 6v battery is flattened by trying to start my old Ford Pop, which hasnt been started since 1982, what is the best way to recharge it, and what if I need to 'jump' the car to get it going???

Advice appreciated

[garethj]

The best way to recharge it is with a 6V charger, there are some around with a switch for 6V and 12V. Argos used to do one, or maybe try a motorbike shop because they kept 6V until recently on scooters.

I've jump started from a 12V car a few times but I was very quick taking the negative lead off once it had started. The starter spins over at a healthy old speed

[crankedup]

Thought the old 'Pops' had a starter handle? crank by hand to get an stronger spark at the plugs.

[Mello]

With my bad back!

Seriously though, yes it does have a starting handle so that's certainly reasonable, I didnt realise it gave a stronger spark though?

Thanks for the advice...

[crankedup]

Both my vintage iron have 6 volts, by hand cranking all of the battery power go'es to ignition rather than most of it going to turning the engine over. The old handle has saved my bacon many a time over the years. (Now I know I'm an old codger)

[Dogwatch]

Hope you've cleaned/changed a few things apart from the battery if the engine hasn't run since 1982!

[Mello]

Dogwatch said:

Hope you've cleaned/changed a few things apart from the battery if the engine hasn't run since 1982!

Indeed... I'm replacing most of the electrics, plus yet to flush the tank and get new petrol into the carb. Fan belt, too, of course. Fingers crossed I might get it started this weekend...

[Hybrids]

If the battery has been left discharged for so long it's unlikely to accept a charge.
It will have suffered permanent sulphation which is a build up of lead chrystals on the plates.
Some chargers claims to recover sulphated batteries with varying success, better to invest in a new battery and keep it fully charged if stood unused

[s2art]

You could probably use a 12 volt charger as long as you have two 6 volt batteries. Just wire them up in series.

[Mello]

Sorry, I should have made it clear that I do have a new battery, I'm just not too confident that I'll get the car started with the charge that is in it, given the other things that may have detriorated since 1982... I suppose I'm most concerned about the delivery of fuel and spark (but then again there isn't much else...)

[Hybrids]

I would suggest that if it takes quite a bit of cranking to just do it in short bursts to give the battery chance to recover a little.
The chance of you having a 6v jump pack is probably nil so if you do run it down give it a good overnight charge rather than a 2 hour surface charge