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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Starter Staying engaged?

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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 09:20 AM
  #1  
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cgi2099
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Starter Staying engaged?

Hey guys, i have a 1981 f150 4x4 with a 351M and a C6 auto

My starter went out yesterday and i bought a new one and installed it but after the truck was started the starter would stay engaged. So i made sure i was getting the right starter for an auto and a 351M (which has one threaded ear and one thats not) Long story short ive been through 4 different starters (thank god i work at a parts store!!) and they all do the same thing. I had this problem a few years back and ended up having to get my starter rebuilt. Does anyone have any advice on this or what would be causing this problem?

Thank You
Josh
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 10:03 AM
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Have the return spring in your ignition key barrel checked.
Manually turn the key back a litle when she starts. I have this problem and rather than pay $150 fo a new barrell I just turn the key back a little when it fires.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 10:12 AM
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Pull wire #5 off. Does that stop it? Pull wire #6 off. Does that stop it? If either one stops it, it's not the starter.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 11:01 AM
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Check the solenoid
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 11:51 AM
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From what your saying it is probably the solanoids follow this link it is very helpful All about starter solenoids (relays) and why they fail
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Kermit the truck
Have the return spring in your ignition key barrel checked.
Manually turn the key back a litle when she starts. I have this problem and rather than pay $150 fo a new barrell I just turn the key back a little when it fires.
Ditto.

+1 on the idea about the solenoid getting stuck too, although my experiences have been that they just die and never engage vs. engaging and sticking closed.

On one of my bikes, the bendix likes to stick when it's < 30 degrees or so, but it pops back after a few seconds.
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by Leaf
On one of my bikes, the bendix likes to stick when it's < 30 degrees or so, but it pops back after a few seconds.
Not many people in my circle of friends ride their bikes in sub-freezing weather to have noticed such behavior...........
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 12:58 PM
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I don't go very far in that kind of weather, lol... It's good for a quick run to the store or up the road to visit friends, but any further than a few miles and I start getting too numb, no matter how thick a coverall I wear...

A good windshield and a fairing (or an old towel plugging up the holes between the 'shield and the tank/headlight in my case) helps amazingly, but I think a fella would still need a heated suit to do any significant travel below 40 degrees or so... And I don't have anything with a powerful enough stator to run something like that. :<
 
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Old Jan 13, 2012 | 07:39 PM
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I got another new starter and switched out the bendix from the original starter and everything works fine, thanks for the help everyone!!
 
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