Ol' Orange Won't Start

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Jul 18, 2015 | 09:06 AM

Caleb H

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More Turbo

Joined: Sep 2008

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From: Pennsylvania

Ol' Orange Won't Start

Alright, went to go to the scrapyard today with a load of metal I've been slowly accruing in the bed of my '83. The truck been sitting for about three weeks. I went to start it, and it cranked no problem like usual, but didn't turn over (like usual after sitting). Cranked again after pressing the pedal, still wouldn't turn over, although that is still normal for my truck. Went to crank again.... CLUNK. That's all it does now when the key is turned to start. It's like a cross between a click and a clunk.

I'm thinking either the starter finally gave up the ghost or the solenoid is bad, but I'm not positive on how to investigate it. How would I go about figuring out which is my problem? I guess I could replace both but why bother taking out a good original part if one of them still works?

Maybe it's fate... at this point I feel as if I'm doomed never to unload that metal

Jul 18, 2015 | 10:04 AM

Don Naslund

Laughing Gas

Joined: Sep 2014

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From: Whittier

Could be that the bendix got jammed up. Try to turn the engine by hand about 1/4 turn tehn try the starter.

Jul 18, 2015 | 10:11 AM

stuart1

Cargo Master

Joined: Jun 2003

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From: Somewhere Saskatchewan

Um?

Cranked but wouldn't turn over?

Jul 18, 2015 | 11:27 AM

Caleb H

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Sep 2008

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From: Pennsylvania

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuart1

Cranked but wouldn't turn over?

Yeah, but like I said, that's typical for my truck. If I leave it sit for a few weeks it takes a little bit of work (usually less than 15 seconds all told) to get it started. That wasn't my problem, though; the truck does not crank at all now. It just makes a single noise like a click or a clunk.

Jul 20, 2015 | 01:57 PM

1986F150six

Lead Driver

Joined: Jul 2009

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From: Sheffield, AL

Place a wrench on the bolt holding the harmonic balance to the crankshaft and see if the engine can be rotated by hand.

Jul 20, 2015 | 01:59 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

You can rule out the solenoid by taking a set of jumper cables, hook one of the red clamps to the battery +, and touch the other red clamp to the large lug on the solenoid that goes down to the starter. MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL BEFORE DOING THIS.

Jul 20, 2015 | 02:15 PM

ctubutis

Moderator

Joined: Nov 2007

Posts: 22,415

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From: Denver Metro Area, CO

Battery needs charging?

BTW "crank" and "turn over" mean the same thing, is that what you're trying to say? You turn the key to START but the starter motor fails to crank/turn over the engine?