Hi All,

I'm Dan; I am new to the community and wanted to introduce myself! After today's purchase, I get the feeling I'll be spending a lot of time lurking in these boards and searching for answers as I get into my new ride.

Here's what I snagged:

1984 F250 4x4 Single Cab. The trim level leads me to believe it's the XL
351W with a 4spd Manual Trans
110,000 miles

The guy parked it a year and a half ago and said it had worked great. The body is almost flawless and is as rust free as an almost 30 year old truck gets. I cant believe I'm the second owner. He even signed over the original title from 84.

Anyway, I was sadly unable to drive it home on my own. It was a good enough deal that I went ahead and bought it anyway but I had to have it towed out and brought to a shop. a loud buzzing noise coming from the starter solenoid, replaced the solenoid and still getting the grinding sound. Maybe a bad ground? I don't know. I didn't want to stand in a field while it was raining trying to figure it out.. Maybe at home but neither the time or the place.

Anyway, here's some pics of the truck in better weather. Thanks for all the helpful comments and insightful posts! See ya around.

 

Welcome to FTE Citizenrain,

Nice looking truck, post your questions and concerns when ever you need to.
I am sure you will get plenty of help.

 

If the solenoid buzzes, typically it might not be bad.

A low-voltage condition from the battery is more than likely your problem. In which case, get a new battery or charge the old one and check the water/acid level and see if it holds a charge.

When the voltage is low, three things can happen:

1) The starter will turn, but it struggles and might not even get it to spin the motor over once. A typical "WHUMP... WHUMP..." noise as it turns. This is low voltage and can be due to bad battery, bad battery cables, or bad battery cable connections.

2) There'll be a loud "CLUNG!" from the passenger side fender. In which case, check connections and voltage and try again.

3) The solenoid will buzz. There's enough voltage to make the lights and stuff come on, but when you hit the key, the battery doesn't have enough cranking amps to make the starter turn over. So electricity is running from the battery, to the ignition switch, to the solenoid, and the solenoid is sending whatever is left of the current to the starter (because the solenoid acts like a relay). When it buzzes, after you hit the switch, the amount of current drops and is just enough to make the solenoid click on and off REALLY fast (the buzzing) and not turn the starter over. Your lights will be really dim too.

Hope this helps, and if you need anything, feel free to ask. We have very knowledgeable members here at FTE, and love these old trucks.

Welcome to FTE. Don't pay attention to the podunk old man.

 

Welcome aboard, Dan.

I agree with 1983F1503004x4, check the battery and the major electrical connections (including the ground to the block (and frame, if applicable)).

Add to that, I'm confused by your mixing of terms.... first it was a solenoid buzz, then it was a grinding sound.

The buzzing sound was explained well...

A grinding sound is the starter motor trying to engage with the flywheel/flexplate; could be a few different causes but start with the simple & obvious like said.

 

Welcome to FTE, CitizenRain. I don't have anything to add regarding your starter woes, but there are some really sharp guys here, that do. ctubutis is one. Where are you located? Who knows, you could be just down the road from one of us. Anyway, welcome aboard!

 

I have to agree with everything he said. Welcome to FTE.

 

Yes, welcome! And, please go fill out the User Control Panel so we can see where you are.

I agree with the others about battery and connections. Sounds like either the battery is down/shot or you have a bad connection somewhere.

A 351W with a 4-speed sounds familiar - Rusty has an NP435 tranny with an NP208 transfer case. And, the reason I included the 351W in the statement is that and the F250 precludes you from having the SROD, IIRC.

Pretty neat that you are just the 2nd owner. And, it sounds like maybe the PO didn't hack it up too much so you have something "pristine".

 

Clean the posts and terminals really well first just to make sure it isnt something that simple.

 

Yes, please.

HERE is a direct link, the location you enter in the bottom pane is what we will see with your posts.