Wisconsin VF4D...starter woes

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I recently got a 1968 Hobart welder powered by a 1968 Wisconsin VF4D engine which is missing the starter. The voltage regulator says it is 12 volts so it appears the original starter is a Wisconsin YA-54A which is obsolete. The replacement starter is a Prestolite MBG4141 which is still available. The problem is that it does not come with a solenoid nor can I find a listing for one. The starter wire runs directly from the control panel to the starter without going through a separately mounted solenoid so I guessing the original starter must have had a solenoid attached. I would really appreciate it if someone could point me in the right direction! thanks,

Jim
 
What gauge is the wire from the control panel to the starter, is it a light-gauge wire to engage a solenoid, or a heavy gauge battery cable?

If a wire to operate a solenoid exists, it's simple matter of adding a generic 12 Volt starter solenoid.

There's a discontinued Wisconsin kit to do just that, look on .pdf Page 60 (original paper Page # 51) at the .pdf download below.
Wisconsin starters
 
(quoted from post at 22:58:44 04/22/18) What gauge is the wire from the control panel to the starter, is it a light-gauge wire to engage a solenoid, or a heavy gauge battery cable?

If a wire to operate a solenoid exists, it's simple matter of adding a generic 12 Volt starter solenoid.

There's a discontinued Wisconsin kit to do just that, look on .pdf Page 60 (original paper Page # 51) at the .pdf download below.
Wisconsin starters


Hi Bob, thanks for the info. The positive battery cable (6 or 8 guage) run from the battery to the control panel and another just like it from the control panel to the starter. There is some kind of a switch/device between the two on the control panel. Maybe they didn't use a solenoid rather just a direct switch to the battery though I have never seen anything like that. I will go out and look at the solenoid kit you talked about and get back to you tonight. thanks again, jim
 
Is there a hand-operated switch between the two?

If you look at Auction # 132568426058 on ebay, you'll see photos of the type os switch Wisconsin often used if they had a little control panel mounted to the engine.

That's what may be in you main control panel, perhaps?
 

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