So... my 95's starter has started slowing down and drawing more and more power to get the engine started. This is a classic sign of impending starter failure, so I started looking around for a replacement. I hate direct drive starters - had way too many experiences with them in British and other vintage vehicles - and wanted a gear reduction starter. I'd read here and elsewhere that the starter from a 7.3L PSD SuperDuty was a gear reduction starter and would fit; further, the late-01 on 7.3 used a lighter gear reduction starter that eliminated that really annoying third bolt that's so damn irritating to get out.

Well, used starters in the area were stupidly priced, retail starters all had a large core fee that I couldn't get back as I wouldn't be handing in the exact same starter. I was shopping on RockAuto and came across the TYC brand starter, brand new, $68 with no core. Since I had to order some stuff anyway, I thought this might work out well. Googling around showed that there were a few good reviews for it with the 7.3 and no major bad reviews. I decided to pull the trigger, and it showed up today.



It came with a test sheet showing that this specific starter had been tested and passed various tests prior to being shipped (it's serialized so I'm not going to post it) as well as another page showing generic starter installation tips such as 'make sure your battery is fully charged.' Fairly well written, not Engrish. Once you remove those, there's some wrapping/packing paper and then the starter itself.



Pulled it out and got all-around pictures.











Looks to be well done, not your typically poorly machined Chinese-made Denso knockoff. I'll let y'all know how it does with starting after I install it sometime in the next few days.

 

That's a good price, yes, let us know how it works.

 

Just for comparison/baseline:

Example startup with original direct-drive starter, 327,000 miles. Ambient conditions: 61 degrees F, no appreciable wind. Truck is dead cold, hasn't been driven for about 12-14 hours. Start procedure accomplished by remote starter system - activation, 45 second delay (to allow for glow plugs), then crank starter.

 

That is a good price and ever better write up and pics :-)

I may be needing a new starter for my rebuild truck. Current one works but is slow and backup is a Chinese SD denso knockoff that needs new solenoid contacts (after only 1.5 yrs use).

At $68 bucks (and a good review from you) maybe a brand new one is in order instead of time and money into the Chinese junk on my shelf.

Just to be clear, the one you bought is NOT an SD style one though, but direct drive OBS style instead, right?

Edit: check that, I see that it IS an SD-style one after all. Stupid small phone screen :-)

 

Yup, but it's the late SD style that only needs two bolts.

 

Working on it now, this may become a "how to get your starter off" writeup with pics as well, at least in part.

 

Use an extension over the top of the starter for the top bolt. Anyway, be sure to let us know about that starter. It just so happens, mine just started crapping out. It started spinning without engaging. I guess that means its starting to go bad.

 

Yeah, I figured out the proper combination of extensions and a swivel joint to get it out. Taking a break for a bit to figure out the one electrical change that would need to be made.

 

Got it in. Fastest start up I've ever heard from an even vaguely cold early PSD. Started up with just a touch of the key after the WTS light went out. Didn't whack the batteries down anywhere near the same level the old starter did. More later, cleaning tools.

 

I was wondering when someone else was going to find those.
I stock them for the 6.0, but they are too new to us yet to really know how long they will last.
But at $68 it's very hard to beat.
IMO they can't be any worse than the parts store junk.

 

Any indication where it's made?

 

Sadly, it *is* made in China. However, it seems to be an original design, not a knockoff like most nameless China garbage. Also unlike most China garbage, it seems well machined. I get the feeling this is something that TYC is very interested in making a good impression with so they can break into the market, so they're not likely to suck.

Yes, and local parts stores sell worse starters for twice as much as well.

 

And video of the new starter:


Ambient conditions: 63 degrees F, no appreciable wind. Start procedure accomplished by remote starter - activation, 45 second delay, then attempt a start. Truck had been sitting for about 10 hours so was again dead cold. Pretty easy to tell it's a lot happier with the new starter.

For those that ask, the remote starter was used because 1) that's how I normally start the truck and 2) to eliminate any human variables, such as how long the key was turned, how much arc the key was turned, etc., etc. In both cases the truck was also on its on-board battery maintainer (yes, I have one installed) for at least 10 hours prior to start to give it the best chance, and in both cases the battery maintainer reported the batteries as fully charged immediately prior to start.

 

I saw somewhere that they're made in Taiwan, not mainland China. There's a big difference and sometimes the difference between the two countries gets confused. Does the label actually say "Made in China?"

Regardless of where it's made, common sense says that a new gear reduction starter that retails for $68 is going to have some compromises either in material or workmanship or both in order to make a profit at that price.

 

TYC Part # 117578 {#F4TZ11002ARM}
Planetary Gear Reduction; OE Manufacturer: Mitsubishi; Power: 2.2KW

Listed on Rockauto for 116$