Gummed up starter
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Joined: Mar 2003
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Gummed up starter
Hi there, I've got a '94 F150 5.8L Shortbox supercab 4x4 and
I was wondering if there is a way to keep one's starter from getting gummed up by water and mud and all the other fun types of sludge that are usually picked up when off roading.
Twice my starter has gotten gummed up. The starter is some kind of a gear reduction thing. ( Can you tell I'm new at this?)
I changed the drive gear the first time and cleaned out the starter because it was not disengaging properly.
Worked great for a month then I went playin' at the farm and when I came back I parked it and drove around one of the trucks from my work (2003 F350 6.0L diesel crewcab 4x4 I was in heaven)
Then I went to move my truck and the starter didn't want to disenage again and I got that lovely screeching sound when I tried to start my truck. I crawled under it and sprayed some Tri-Flow through a little hole in the bottom of the starter (which I assume is supposed to be there) and she started working again. I figured if there was any tricks or if I just have a tired old starter you folks would be the ones to ask.
Thanks in advance for your help
I was wondering if there is a way to keep one's starter from getting gummed up by water and mud and all the other fun types of sludge that are usually picked up when off roading.
Twice my starter has gotten gummed up. The starter is some kind of a gear reduction thing. ( Can you tell I'm new at this?)
I changed the drive gear the first time and cleaned out the starter because it was not disengaging properly.Worked great for a month then I went playin' at the farm and when I came back I parked it and drove around one of the trucks from my work (2003 F350 6.0L diesel crewcab 4x4 I was in heaven)
Then I went to move my truck and the starter didn't want to disenage again and I got that lovely screeching sound when I tried to start my truck. I crawled under it and sprayed some Tri-Flow through a little hole in the bottom of the starter (which I assume is supposed to be there) and she started working again. I figured if there was any tricks or if I just have a tired old starter you folks would be the ones to ask.Thanks in advance for your help
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Gummed up starter
I don't think the stock '94 5.8L starter has a reduction drive, but I know it has a GM-type sliding Bendix (drive gear) operated by a fork from the solenoid on top of the starter motor.
If the mud is getting in thru the hole in the starter, it should be OK to silicone it shut. If it's getting in thru the bellhousing; do you have the shield on it?
If the mud is getting in thru the hole in the starter, it should be OK to silicone it shut. If it's getting in thru the bellhousing; do you have the shield on it?
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Gummed up starter
Thank-you for the reply
What you describe sure sounds like my starter. Perhaps the guys at work were wrong when they called it a gear reduction starter.
It does have a solenoid on top that pushes a fork of some type.
There was a bunch of tiny gears (3 I believe) inside the area that housed the bendix or drive gear that I replaced.
The little hole on the bottom doesn't look like damage or anything which is why I wondered if I should leave it alone for drainage or something? (beats me)
A shield? Whereabouts would this shield be? I didn't see any holes anywhere. Mind you I didn't jack the truck up when I R & I'd the starter so maybe I missed something. (which believe me is entirely possible) I'm far cry from being even a backyard mechanic.
The last time I changed a starter it was on a '67 with a 352 there was a lot more room to work with, mind you the starter was twice the size though if I remember correctly. I'm not that old
it was about 6 years ago that I did that.
Once again I appreciate the help. I want to work a lot more on my truck and this site has become invaluable.
What you describe sure sounds like my starter. Perhaps the guys at work were wrong when they called it a gear reduction starter.
It does have a solenoid on top that pushes a fork of some type.
There was a bunch of tiny gears (3 I believe) inside the area that housed the bendix or drive gear that I replaced.
The little hole on the bottom doesn't look like damage or anything which is why I wondered if I should leave it alone for drainage or something? (beats me)
A shield? Whereabouts would this shield be? I didn't see any holes anywhere. Mind you I didn't jack the truck up when I R & I'd the starter so maybe I missed something. (which believe me is entirely possible) I'm far cry from being even a backyard mechanic.
The last time I changed a starter it was on a '67 with a 352 there was a lot more room to work with, mind you the starter was twice the size though if I remember correctly. I'm not that old
it was about 6 years ago that I did that.Once again I appreciate the help. I want to work a lot more on my truck and this site has become invaluable.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
Likes: 7
From: Memphis, TN
Gummed up starter
If you had 3 gears behind the bendix, you DO have a reduction starter.
The shield I'm talking about covers the front of the bellhousing where it hangs below the oil pan. There should be a removeable shield that allows access to the torque converter nuts on the flexplate. If it's missing, the bellhousing can scoop up mud and the spinning ring gear could pump it into the starter's bendix housing, packing it full.
Look around on this site.
The shield I'm talking about covers the front of the bellhousing where it hangs below the oil pan. There should be a removeable shield that allows access to the torque converter nuts on the flexplate. If it's missing, the bellhousing can scoop up mud and the spinning ring gear could pump it into the starter's bendix housing, packing it full.
Look around on this site.
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