STARTER

[dogred]

Does anyone else have to change out starters every couple of weeks or months? My beast is chewing them up like crazy.

Do you think that if I was to replace the transmission/engine mounts that I could eliviate this problem. I am tired of the crazy looks I get from people when I start my truck and the starter grinds.

[alientravler]

Don’t think that would be the cause as the starter is bolted up solid to the engine. If the bolts on the transmission housing were loose allowing a little flexing of the transmission from the engine it might cause the problem you are describing. Another idea is that the fly wheel is not in balance or even bent for some reason?? What part of the starter is being torn up?? Are the teeth on the bendix being torn up? Is the starter bolting up solid and lining up properly so it engages the teeth of the bendix with the teeth on the fly wheel? I’m just throwing out a few things. That is pretty drastic for it to need to be changed out that quickly and regularly.
Modified by alientravler at 3:04 AM 8/23/2009

[dogred]

I just got my hands on a remanufactured starter, I could only get one bolt in the last bolt would get tight after a couple of turns.(did not matter which hole, tried it in both) I tried the starter and it fired up perfectly. So I tried it 3 more times, worked flawlessly all 3 times. Got off of work 3 hours later fired right up perfectly. Next morning grinding but started. Check to see if starter was loose, it was mounted flush. Now 5 days later the thing will not even turn over. WTF, no clicking, nothing. Thank god all these starters I have been getting have a life time warranty. There have been other starters and each went out differently but all of them eventually loosened up or made bad grinding noises. I guess I might have to replace my bellhousing.

To answer why I was thinking about the mounts is that the transmission dust cover is bending it self on the passenger side. I had to hammer it flat just to get the starters to begin to work. Whan I take the starter off it looks like it is countersunk into the transmission.

[alientravler]

Try a little loctite on the bolt threads on the next one you replace if you have not done so already. Make sure that you have a really clean and tight connection from the battery cable ends on the battery terminals. Make sure that no corrison has seeped into the cable itself. if so replace it. Sometime its the simple things that mess us ALL up! Is it possable to get another starter from another soarce? Im not sure what the total amp amount to the starter should be but if any corrison (resistance) is present it's not going to happen. This almost sounds like a possable shimming problem although I dont know weather they use shimms or not. I should slide up under mine and take a look!!
Modified by alientravler at 3:02 PM 8/23/2009

[flinterman2000]

There is a plate between the engine and transmission. could be that the plate is bent or its the wrong one. The plates are different to suit the transmission which should be used. If the bell housing is too small, there would be problems mounting the starter (the bolt going up hard) and the starter would die not too long after, because the flywheel would be pushing out of line the bendix. This causes the armature in the starter to ground on the field coil and the starter dies.

[dogred]

I am going to take some pics. The bell housing is the correct size. The dust cover is only slightly bent on the passenger side of the starter, and that happened after the first starter was mounted. I hammered it flat 3 months ago because it was really bad before.I think the mounting holes are getting wallowed out from all of the flexing. I am still going to replace the motor and transmission mounts. I think most of my problem with the starter loosening itself up is from these mounts being severly worn. All the local parts stores (except wrecking yards) get there remanufactured starters from the same few sources, just different names on the boxes.

Do you really think the same people who make autolite spark plugs also make autolite starters and batteries?It is just brand reconition.

[phlebmaster]

Pics will help.

Make sure you are getting the correct starter, get the right bolts.

What went wrong with your original starter?

[dogred]

Do not really know, I saved the truck from going to the junkyard. The first starter that was there when I got truck probably worked but the area around the starter was looking as if the starter was countersunk into the transmission. So I had to take off the transmission dust cover and beat it flat. I had already replace that starter. It was a remanufactured one from NAPA. I replaced it with one from Schucks, gotta love lifetime warranty. That one worked but had grinding issues, which still have not gone away. Also I replaced the junkyard flywheel with one from Schucks when I had the transmission off. Still using the bolts that came with the truck.

Modified by dogred at 2:23 PM 8/24/2009

Modified by dogred at 2:28 PM 8/24/2009
Modified by dogred at 2:30 PM 8/24/2009

[alientravler]

The interface between the starter and the mount is off....Unless its the angle that the photo was taken. Is it possable to use heli coils in the bolt holes??
Modified by alientravler at 3:20 PM 8/24/2009

[flinterman2000]

Yeah, the starter does not look right. It looks to be at the wrong angle. But that could just be how the pic was taken. If you look closely at the pic, you would see a small space open between the starter and the mounting plate at the bottom of the starter. That should not be. This could be your problem. Its out of alignment and the bendix is too close to the flywheel.

[daxon22]

Hey Dogred I bet you have been getting the wrong starter ! I had the same exact problem with an 88 Mustang GT ! The starter was toast when i got the car so i got a brand new Bosch starter from Murrays Auto Parts . I put it on, bolted in fine, but after a couple of days would start grinding like hell ! I replaced it a couple more times within the next two weeks and the people at Murrays were getting pissed and said they wouldnt exchange it anymore because " i wasnt doing something right " !!! So i asked them to lookup a couple of other brands and bring them out to see if there was any difference . Sure nuff the end of one of the starters where the bendix is housed was different !!! So i took that one, bolted it in and BAM it worked !!! I did b**** the counter guy out for blaming me for his computer problems ! From that bad experience i learned to bring my old parts in and match them up before i left with the new part . Good luck

[dogred]

Well I work my nights at an affiliate of Murray's, and I was even going to try one for an automatic, but then I would have to buy it. As far as looking for another year, all the manual 720's had the same part number starter. There is something else than the shape of the starter causing this problem. I just can't believe I am the only one having this problem. I am going to change out the transmission mount soon, and I will see if it improves.

About the picture, the bottom bolt was not installed, but even with the bottom bolt installed there is still a gap on the near side, between the transmission and the dust cover.

[daxon22]

Well heres a picture of mine thats never been rebuilt . Notice the end is different ? Im just saying at least take yours off and try matching it up to a different brand possibly at another store and it dosnt cost a thing to do. [IMG][/IMG]

[dogred]

The only difference that I notice is that your dust cover for the transmission is not coming away from the transmission on the passenger side of the starter.

[alientravler]

It looks like the dust cover acts as a spacer (Shim) Id almost bet you that if you shim the starter it will work better if not great. Shim as close to the thickness of the cover. Maybe even another dust cover that is if they are not as scarce as "hen's teeth" LoLs!!! As for the bolt holes...if they are "wallowed out" (spelling?) you will have to address that too. Maybe a couple of heli-coils will do the trick. Again just throwing this out in the hope's of helping in some small way!

Modified by alientravler at 9:56 PM 8/25/2009

Modified by alientravler at 10:04 PM 8/25/2009
Modified by alientravler at 10:55 PM 8/25/2009

[daxon22]

Hey Dogred this starter problem has been bugging the crap outta me so ive been thinking . I went out tonight ( at midnight ) and took one my starter bolts out and noticed the starter bolt on my truck is shorter then the one you have pictured . Im wondering if the bolts your using are a little bit to long ? Maybe when your tightening the bolts they are bottoming out in the bolt holes but at the same time snugging the starter to the trans just enough to seem like its tight and with every start the starter is torquing the bolts little by little eventually working them loose . This is just an idea try shorter bolts or using a couple more washers on the bolts.[IMG][/IMG]

[alientravler]

Good idea!! A couple of washers on those bolts should prove out daxon22's theory quick enough!! Good Luck! :o) J.T.

Modified by alientravler at 1:36 AM 8/26/2009
Modified by alientravler at 2:06 AM 8/26/2009

[flinterman2000]

Had a problem with the thread stripped from the top bolt hole on the transmission. I cut a groove in the housing and installed a nut and epoxied it in. Works great. Cant take a picture of it because I'd have to drop the transmission to see it.

[alientravler]

Where there is a will...there is a way!! If that works that is great!! :o) J.T.

[dogred]

Yesterday I got start the rig up after taking the starter out and trying to clean out the bolt holes. It started up perfect, no grinding or anything. I drove it down to Walmart, about 10 miles by highway. Did my shopping and returned to start the rig and it was grinding agian. I am going to try lock washers first, then maybe some blue locktight. Thank you guys for all the ideas and options, I was at my wits end about this problem. It has been ongoing since I got the rig, lot of bump starting.

[alientravler]

THAT kind of "Bumping and Grinding" we can all do without!! LoLs J.T.
Modified by alientravler at 2:38 AM 8/28/2009

[dirtykustoms]

I was wondering if you ever found a fix for your starter issues.

I am having the same issue.

I changed the flywheel, & clutch and battery.

I also took out the 4x4 starter with a flat face and put in a new half cone 2 wheel drive starter.

It worked for a couple days, and now it is grinding again.

Hope you are still around.

thnx,

dirty