Why am I burning up starter bendix's??
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 282
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Why am I burning up starter bendix's??
I replaced my failing 77s starter with this unit from DB last spring -- since then, I've had to warranty it 3 times. Each time the symptoms are the same.... go to start it and the starter just spins. Get a new one, toss it in and it starts right up for a few weeks and then dies again. This is a truck that doesn't get driven very often and this will be the 3rd starter I've put in through only 3 tanks of gas!
Do I have a different problem that is burning these out? Are they junk starters? (I've always had good luck with DB in the past) What's the solution??
Do I have a different problem that is burning these out? Are they junk starters? (I've always had good luck with DB in the past) What's the solution??
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
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From: Stanley, VA
Is it the bendix that's going bad or is it the starter motor itself?
If its the drive, what's the problem? The teeth breaking/wearing or is it not coming out to engage the ring gear?
EDIT: Reread your post. When the drive spins, is there any kind of grinding or crunching sound or does it just spin like the drive isn't engaging the ring gear?
If its the drive, what's the problem? The teeth breaking/wearing or is it not coming out to engage the ring gear?
EDIT: Reread your post. When the drive spins, is there any kind of grinding or crunching sound or does it just spin like the drive isn't engaging the ring gear?
Thread Starter
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 282
Likes: 2
Is it the bendix that's going bad or is it the starter motor itself?
If its the drive, what's the problem? The teeth breaking/wearing or is it not coming out to engage the ring gear?
EDIT: Reread your post. When the drive spins, is there any kind of grinding or crunching sound or does it just spin like the drive isn't engaging the ring gear?
If its the drive, what's the problem? The teeth breaking/wearing or is it not coming out to engage the ring gear?
EDIT: Reread your post. When the drive spins, is there any kind of grinding or crunching sound or does it just spin like the drive isn't engaging the ring gear?
I also hooked it up to 12v directly and the bendix didn't throw-out like you would expect it to. When I did this with a new one, it does throw out correctly.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 14,333
Likes: 247
From: Stanley, VA
Personally I haven't used DB starters.
It sounds like there is a problem with the starter mounted solenoid that engages the drive. Usually though, the solenoid has to move the drive out for the internal switch to close and energize the starter motor.
Here's the rub. It sounds like you need to disassemble the solenoid to see whats going on. If its still under warranty, you can't do that without voiding the warranty.
It sounds like there is a problem with the starter mounted solenoid that engages the drive. Usually though, the solenoid has to move the drive out for the internal switch to close and energize the starter motor.
Here's the rub. It sounds like you need to disassemble the solenoid to see whats going on. If its still under warranty, you can't do that without voiding the warranty.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Taxachusetts
You do know there's a difference in starter nose lengths between an auto trans and a manual trans, no?
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
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Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 7
From: Taxachusetts
Yes -- this is an auto and I've been through all of that in this thread. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...tarter-id.html
Ok...glad you got that sorted out. I had a problem with the parts store with that question...until I asked them to show me both (auto/manual) starters. Surprise!
Starter's not engaging the ring gear, correct? Starter sits flush/bolts up nice? Mixed parts on a rebuild? Thought about an oem rebuilt?
I'm just throwing things out here, my friend.....I'm stumped.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
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It's a new unit, not rebuilt. It's a cheap/chinese unit (but I've always had good luck with the DB units -- I've had worse luck with the rebuilt FLAPS units.)
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2011
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Alright guys, I talked to DB and I've got 2 options now.... They are willing to give me a straight up refund if I return the starter. I could then buy another rebuilt/reman'd unit locally and cross my fingers. A rebuilt unit from the FLAPS is $130-$150.
Option #2 would be to take the DB starter to a local starter shop and just ask them to look at/fix it. I wouldn't be able to send it back to DB at that point but something tells me that they could probably fix whatever is wrong with the bendix (and maybe with better parts) for less than the cost of a new starter. At the very least, they could probably tell me why I've been through 3 of these in such a short amount of time.
Thoughts?
Option #2 would be to take the DB starter to a local starter shop and just ask them to look at/fix it. I wouldn't be able to send it back to DB at that point but something tells me that they could probably fix whatever is wrong with the bendix (and maybe with better parts) for less than the cost of a new starter. At the very least, they could probably tell me why I've been through 3 of these in such a short amount of time.
Thoughts?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 7
From: Taxachusetts
I vote for option #2.
After all you've gone through with 3 starters, I think you owe it to yourself to find the cause of that illness.......Sit on the dude's lap doing the work and take pictures!
After all you've gone through with 3 starters, I think you owe it to yourself to find the cause of that illness.......Sit on the dude's lap doing the work and take pictures!