Battery-POP noise

[jmbrodsky@domain.elided]

ISteve,

        'm going out on a limb here and in light of recent events, I'll probably
be crucified for it.

        Batery was a few years old?  Haven't checked the water in a while?  
Water?  If the plates become dry you can run the risk of a spark jumping 
internally in the battery case.

        MY Hypothesis:

        Cranking the battery, and such changec the electrolyte inthe battery and
generated hydrogen gas.  You crank some more, then the pop is the spark jumping 
inside and igniting the gas, expanding the battery for an instant and breaks the
connection in between the plates, and the terminals etc.

        The battery may read 13 volts, but load it, and you get nothing.  I'll 
be it won't even light a standard headlight?

        Purely HYPOTHESIS.  Everyone is gonna love to burn me on this one.

-Joel  Tranny eater turns lower revs at 75mph than before!  More top end.

-----INCLUDED MESSAGE FOLLOWS-----

Date: Thu, 11 Mar 1999 10:35:52 -0600
From: "CPT Steven T. Fischer" <fischers@domain.elided>
Subject: Starter or Starter Relay

        I need some help getting my '68 Scout 800A started.  After a couple
minutes of extended cranking (short periods with a couple breaks in
between, of course) I heard a *POP* from up front.  Following the noise the
starter would not engage.  To add to my confusion I also get no other
electronic activity.  No headlight, gauges, radio, etc, regardless of the
key position (Start, off, ACC).   Trouble shooting I have tried to date is:
 1. Multi-meter to the battery (13 Volts)   2.  Multi-meter to the hot wire
on the starter and starter case (13 volts)   3.  Shorting across the
starter/solenoid(?) leads (both of them) to force the starter to crank.
(nothing, no crank, no click, no hum, ZIP!). 

        What did I fry?  Starter?  Solenoid?  Starter Relay?  The first two I 
can
find, but where is the starter relay located.  Up under the dash somewhere
is my assumption.  Thanks in advance.

Steve Fischer
'68 Scout 800A, Transplanted  304, and currently immobile!
    
        

------------------------------