61 American starter removal

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   Hello my name is Mike and I have a 61 American convertible. I'm new to this site and I don't exactly know how it works but will do my best. I need to remove the solenoid but how do I get to it?. My car has the rare PB booster and it's in the way. let me start over my car has not been started for a while. I've replaced the battery, bought a new ign switch but when I turn the key there is no sound no clicking nothing. so I don't know what to do. I've asked a lot of people on Facebook. they say it's either the starter or the solenoid. any suggestions from anyone would be really helpful

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michaelh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Fan Joined: Nov/20/2020 Location: tacoma,wa Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote michaelh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 61 American starter removal Posted: Jun/29/2022 at 9:23pm
	Hello my name is Mike and I have a 61 American convertible. I'm new to this site and I don't exactly know how it works but will do my best. I need to remove the solenoid but how do I get to it?. My car has the rare PB booster and it's in the way. let me start over my car has not been started for a while. I've replaced the battery, bought a new ign switch but when I turn the key there is no sound no clicking nothing. so I don't know what to do. I've asked a lot of people on Facebook. they say it's either the starter or the solenoid. any suggestions from anyone would be really helpful

ramblinrev Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: Dec/28/2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 11538	Post Options Post Reply Quote ramblinrev Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/29/2022 at 9:38pm
	Hey Mike, welcome! I'm the longtime owner of a '62 convert, and my starter is fairly easy to get at, because I do not have power brakes. If I recall, the '61 PB system is the big old style, with a vacuum tank on the inner fender? Lots of folks have never seen these, because they are rare! Unless you can get the starter out from below, I think you will have to remove the PB hardware to get that starter out. But first, check all your cables for good grounds. If there is no sound at all, I wonder if you're getting juice to the starter? Can you put a jumper cable on that positive terminal of the solenoid, and then touch it to the battery positive terminal? (I don't normally like to create sparks near the battery, but I don't think you could do this the other way around because of clearance.) But some safety glasses on first....just for good measure. Do you have power to the lights, etc? There's also a starter relay under the hood, IIRC. It looks a lot like a horn relay, but is different. Do a little search on how to bypass that with a remote starter button. Or unscrew and wirebrush the terminals there so you can be sure it is good. Finally, if you have an automatic transmission, there's a neutral safety switch. If that bad boy isn't adjusted right or working right you won't get any juice to the starter. That's on the upper side of the steering column under the dash. Try turning the key with one hand and wiggling the gearshift (in park or in nuetral) with the other. Set the parking brake or block the wheels first. Good luck! Check the neutral safety switch and the starter relay first before doing all that other disassembly!
	74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977) 62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981)

ramblinrev Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: Dec/28/2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 11538	Post Options Post Reply Quote ramblinrev Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/29/2022 at 9:56pm
	P.S. If you don't have a 1961 Rambler American Technical Service Manual (factory manual) get one right now! That will tell you how to find things, diagnose things, and disassemble things! Ebay should have one. It'll be the best investment you ever made for this car. (Make sure you get the one that has AMERICAN on the cover....some of these listings are titled wrong, because those manuals are for the Classic and Ambassador, and won't do you much good.... https://www.ebay.com/itm/114900937534?hash=item1ac0a12b3e&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAABAAG3oPWda9u7HSk9Yi%252BHRpS529BWwF8Cf2dxZeHibOraWuHWQsEHCZR24SDFUjJcWsOFCY8lE5Zxi16UeS1AIAcDNLTGN0Py5UkeZW%252BX7oOJyeRHWSPTFWpUfbnmYMzBJed%252Bj%252FPT8wEPr2h2p%252Fwy%252Fw25NXTPM5hb69f6lwTPa1G7tE3ghKu1A1tyKjYf8wdttExSXeHghSF%252B0VjpTFgduC0Nfhf%252FPLZYHSQqFZk4BI%252BQpBPOqIs5VXzCjGNn%252FESIY4ZrAhTGfCfdo2g%252FaI5F6x90rpfWZ4ctHp%252B70obg6%252F3aXW9VvwhTMMLJqdLxOoZRnpMnAjHEqxpZh%252BzHJIEr%252B3Y%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK Edited by ramblinrev - Jun/29/2022 at 9:59pm
	74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977) 62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981)

michaelh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Fan Joined: Nov/20/2020 Location: tacoma,wa Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote michaelh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/30/2022 at 12:35pm
	it is an auto and I do have power to the lights etc just absolutely no sound at all at the solenoid. I have moved the vacuum tank for the PB so it's not in the way but the booster is. I will check all connections. thank you very much for your help

michaelh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Fan Joined: Nov/20/2020 Location: tacoma,wa Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote michaelh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/30/2022 at 1:01pm
	what if I disconnect the neutral safety switch would that work? I do have the TSM and I have looked but can't find the starter relay. I do know what it looks like so I'll just have to look under the hood for it. I have had this problem before and it was caused by a low battery. I just bought a brand new one yesterday. If I do have to remove the solenoid and or starter How does one get to it from below. It's really in there tight next to the firewall. Not only that but it's got flat head screws facing the radiator on the solenoid. I really don't want to remove the brake booster so I'll try everything you suggested thanks again.

michaelh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Fan Joined: Nov/20/2020 Location: tacoma,wa Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote michaelh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/30/2022 at 2:20pm
	good news it's not the starter. It's a combo of things. the ign switch is bad. or it's the neutral safety switch. I jiggled the shift handle and it turned over and almost started. I am so happy it's not the starter or the solenoid. Now I just need to do something with the N-safety switch. but I am replacing the ign switch and battery just to be on the safe side. what should I do if it's the NSS?

ramblinrev Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: Dec/28/2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 11538	Post Options Post Reply Quote ramblinrev Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/30/2022 at 3:24pm
	Don't replace the battery and ignition switch. See in the TSM how to adjust the neutral safety switch, and that may solve your problem! If you end up needing a new one, I think American Parts Depot or Kennedy American have them.
	74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977) 62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981)

michaelh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Fan Joined: Nov/20/2020 Location: tacoma,wa Status: Offline Points: 18	Post Options Post Reply Quote michaelh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/30/2022 at 5:21pm
	the battery was dead I had it checked would not hold a charge. It was still on warranty from Costco I returned it to them and they replaced it at no cost for a brand new one. It's new not rebuilt. An Interstate brand. The switch I have a bunch from other Ramblers that I've had and I have had a lot. I tested the current switch in the car and it has intermittent power from the battery.But like you said could just be the NSS. I like this site thank you so much for talking to me.

ramblinrev Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Joined: Dec/28/2008 Location: Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 11538	Post Options Post Reply Quote ramblinrev Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: Jun/30/2022 at 5:48pm
	Good luck! Keep in touch about others things on your '62! They are neat little cars, that require some TLC, and some good parts!
	74 Hornet Hatchback X twins (since 1977) 62 American Convertible (still worth the $50 I spent in 1973!) AMCRC #513, AMO #384 70 AMX 360 4-speed (since 1981)