I have a 95 f150 4x4 inline 6 with about 280000 on it.
yesterday I replaced the ignition relay on the passangers side of the truck, I also placed a new battery into the truck and replaced the lower rad hose.
I started the truck and while the truck was running, all of a sudden the starter appeared to smoke and the engine died. I know that I now need a new starter now as the starter is dead, and I'm going to change out the ignition relay thinking that I may have had a bad one. Anything else I should check, as I really don't want to replace another starter if that wasn't it?

 

Welcome to FTE.

Sounds like you replaced the "starter solenoid"? Two big posts and two smaller post, hooks to battery and other side to starter.

Sounds like it either stuck ON(faulty) and was holding power to the starter after truck started, or starter bendithe gear part of the starter) stuck and held onto flywheel. I would likely just replace starter and using a test light see if the new soleniod is turning "ON" and "OFF" with key operation. If you don't have test light, then put new starter in, leave battery unhooked til last. Then touch cable to battery and see if starter begins to spin(it shouldn't). If the solenoid was faulty it would show, if nothing spins, then hook up battery and start truck.

 

Sounds like you might want to at least check the starter switch on the steering column, plus the rack and pinion behind the key tumbler. Mine was bad and I went through a couple starters and solenoids because ppl didnt believe me when I said they had to MANUALLY turn the key to the "on" position after starting the truck . I always leave the key in the ignition, even when parked in high-crime areas- All the power to the guy who can steal it without my advice on how to start the engine. Plus, he has too much free time- if he steals it I won't have to spend every sunday with grease on my hands just so I can get to work. BTW I checked, Ford gets $80+ for the ignition tumbler rack + 2 week lead time, drill it out and put a nail in it.

 

I would agree the starter burned up due to a stuck and over-running condition. I've seen it happen on a Detroit Diesel powered Freightliner a few years back. The starter in than thing is almost as big as a 300 I6, or maybe as heavy, lol. The solenoid fried it due to a bad post on the solenoid.
You certainly want to find the issue causing it or you will certainly be buying another starter before long. Pull the starter and start going through the starter and ignition circuits with a DMM and see if you have any hot circuits where they shouldn't.

 

Ive put two starter relays (solenoid) on now, and the same thing happens, i have constant power weather the key is in the on or off position. would it be correct to assume that i have an electrical wire that's shot some where, its not the tumbler, i checked it as well, and its good. bridging the two posts of the relay with the key in the off position will turn over the starter, placing the key in the start position will start the truck

 

check your wiring on the solenoid you have a wire wrong somewhere if it has constant power on both side