stuck starter

Heya.

Pretty confidant my starter is toast.

- Twisting the key engages the relay [click, then a pop when I release] but no sounds from the starter.
- tried a few 'love taps' on the starter with a hammer - no dice.
- used some jumper cables to bridge from the battery to the + terminal on the starter itself: sparks, but no crank.

Now the problem:

I can't get the starter out! I've pulled two mounting bolts and disconnected the positive lead. I can't find any other mounting bolts or a neg lead anywhere - believe me, I looked.

I gave it a few whacks with a mallet and spent some time twisting, tugging, swearing and sweet talking it, but the starter will not budge. Any thoughts?

Note: This is mated up to a 300i6 out of a mid- 80's truck.

Thanks for any advice.

Does it look like this 3 bolt starter?

mine has a smooth shell over the top, and I looked all over for a third bolt last night with no success.

It looks like this one here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5zxbf3kI8w&feature=player_detailpage#t=350s

The starter he pulled in the video is in a 74 econo - not sure of the motor - but it seems to have the same layout as mine [2 bolts + the positive lead]

- thanks for the comment - I'll take another look when I get home from work, just in case.

Think it might be stuck in the flywheel somehow?

It could very well be stuck to the flywheel, and the Ford starters also had very tight tolerances normally where they mount.
I'd get under there with a Baby Thor...after rechecking for a third bolt.
You are replacing the starter anyway.

dig it..

I was a little worried about collateral damage if I wailed too hard on it, but I might get a little more 'expressive' with my swings this next go-around.

thanks

slap it with a 3 # hammer a few times -it will turn loose=or just sell the va n=

well... after laying into that thing with a hammer for ~20 min I finally got it loose enough to slip in a pry bar and pop it out.

found 1/2 a washer stuck behind the flywheel.


Picked up another starter at the local shop and compared the two. Looks like the new one has a 1/2 ring just in front of the drive gear, so [knock on wood] I'm hoping there isn't another 1/2 of a washer floating around in there somewhere.

Test fit the new one and use some emery cloth to clean up the hole if it's too tight!

mmm.. good thinkin' Rod - thanks.

On a semi-related topic, do NOT smack a newer style starter with a hammer as the magnets are ceramic and will break. The starters most of our vans have a thick casing too, compared to the newer ones.

white-lightning wrote:On a semi-related topic, do NOT smack a newer style starter with a hammer as the magnets are ceramic and will break. The starters most of our vans have a thick casing too, compared to the newer ones.

Agreed! This is especially true if it's acting up and you are using the 'old school' fix of tapping on it.
However, if yours doesn't work any more and you can't remove it, you have a dead vehicle and a stuck bad component. The worst that can happen is you damage the core.
If the core charge is high enough that you are worried about visible damage to the old starter, you might consider buying a plastic dead blow hammer to knock it out. It's probably cheaper than a core charge, and it is much harder to leave marks. You end up with another good tool too!

Good advice. In case one of my friends looses their better judgement and wants my help on their car - is the difference between the 'new' and 'old' starters an obvious one?

Not sure on the Fords.
Mopars had the same big ol' starter from the late fifties through the late eighties. The familiar gear reduction starter that gave them a distinctive sound.
Then they came out with the smaller, lighter, stronger mini starter. It is a better deal, but a little more expensive, and isn't as rugged against inflicted damage.
All the racers love 'em because there is more clearance for headers, they spin faster and have the same torque.
The only issue is that the main cable connection is tucked right up against the block, which means grinding for clearance in many cases.

FYI - new starter's in and fired right up. From putting on gloves to turning over the engine in 11min!