vdub
New member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2008
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 1
- Vehicle Year
- 1985
- Vehicle
- Ford
OK hears the deal,
I have owned by BII for about 6 or 7 years. I have to replace the starter every 3 months or sooner. Its been happening since day 1. No matter what the starter grinds. Even new starters, but they sound OK but load. However, a new starter will last maybe a month before I have to start crawling under the car every few starts. Once the starter stops engaging I have to get under the truck loosen it, push it towards the flywheel, about 1/4 inch of play, and tighten it back up. I finally replace it when I have to repeat this after every start. I have seen sparks fly when the starter gets a few months old.
I replaced the flywheel a few years ago with no effect. I have also colored the bendix gear with a sharpy to see the engagement pattern and the gear only half engages when new. The old starters always have a completely wasted bendix bushing.
I have spent years trying to figure this problem out and I have seen many forums talking about this problem. Everyone always blames cheap starters or bad flywheels and I know that's not my problem. I have tried OE starters, reman, and new after market. I have gotten starters from multiple sources and its always the exact same symptoms.
My last resort may be a 302 swap, which i plan to do some day anyway. However, I would rather wait a while because I’m kind of broke at the moment and I would rather swap my axles first. I already have some 79 f100 axles ready for it.
The problem is obviously the gear isn't engaging right. However, how can I do anything about that? It would be nice if Ford used a Chevy type starter.
Any one have any ideas. Thanks in advance. I love my truck but I am sick of people staring at me when I start it. lol. I actually had a lady spill coffee all over herself once because of this. ;-)
I have owned by BII for about 6 or 7 years. I have to replace the starter every 3 months or sooner. Its been happening since day 1. No matter what the starter grinds. Even new starters, but they sound OK but load. However, a new starter will last maybe a month before I have to start crawling under the car every few starts. Once the starter stops engaging I have to get under the truck loosen it, push it towards the flywheel, about 1/4 inch of play, and tighten it back up. I finally replace it when I have to repeat this after every start. I have seen sparks fly when the starter gets a few months old.
I replaced the flywheel a few years ago with no effect. I have also colored the bendix gear with a sharpy to see the engagement pattern and the gear only half engages when new. The old starters always have a completely wasted bendix bushing.
I have spent years trying to figure this problem out and I have seen many forums talking about this problem. Everyone always blames cheap starters or bad flywheels and I know that's not my problem. I have tried OE starters, reman, and new after market. I have gotten starters from multiple sources and its always the exact same symptoms.
My last resort may be a 302 swap, which i plan to do some day anyway. However, I would rather wait a while because I’m kind of broke at the moment and I would rather swap my axles first. I already have some 79 f100 axles ready for it.
The problem is obviously the gear isn't engaging right. However, how can I do anything about that? It would be nice if Ford used a Chevy type starter.
Any one have any ideas. Thanks in advance. I love my truck but I am sick of people staring at me when I start it. lol. I actually had a lady spill coffee all over herself once because of this. ;-)