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1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

Starter Flywheel keep binding, Help!!

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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 01:09 PM
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Starter Flywheel keep binding, Help!!

I have replaced both, i have also replaced the bell housing. I have been working on tweaking the timing as well and i dont think thats it either. The starters i have been getting from autozone dont come with shims and the teeth are fully engaging the flywheel according to the wear pattern.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 01:12 PM
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We always ask to make sure you are getting the correct starter. The manual trans starters and the auto trans starters are different sometimes.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 01:18 PM
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I am pretty darn sure it is for my manual tranny. Autozone is pretty good about giving me the right part but i honestly wouldnt know how to tell the difference.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 01:21 PM
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Originally Posted by olivedad51
I am pretty darn sure it is for my manual tranny. Autozone is pretty good about giving me the right part but i honestly wouldnt know how to tell the difference.
Just get the number off the box and verify for yourself at their site that it is the correct one.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 01:25 PM
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Just checked, DL3185. Its the right one
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 01:27 PM
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Do you still have the sheetmetal plate installed inbetween the bellhousing and the engine?
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 01:27 PM
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My friend suspect timing. Its supposed to be electronically controlled timing but none of that stuff works so i just have to set it and forget it
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 03:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Franklin2
Just get the number off the box and verify for yourself at their site that it is the correct one.
That is all well and good if the right starter was put in the right box/number.

Originally Posted by olivedad51
Just checked, DL3185. Its the right one
See answer above

Originally Posted by Franklin2
Do you still have the sheetmetal plate installed inbetween the bellhousing and the engine?
I was going to bring this up. My 300/six is missing the plate and someone posted that plate locates the starter.

Originally Posted by olivedad51
My friend suspect timing. Its supposed to be electronically controlled timing but none of that stuff works so i just have to set it and forget it
What are the specks on the truck - year/motor/trany?
If it is a timing issue you should be able to remove spark, disconnect wire(s) to coil, and the motor should crank/turn over with out binding.
If it does crank/turn over with no spark then you know it is timing and not starter bind.
Dave ----


guess you could remove the coil wire from dist. cap and ground it when cranking so no spark gets to the plugs.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 04:04 PM
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^^^^^ Or crank the engine with a remote start switch on the fender relay, with the key OFF.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by madpogue
^^^^^ Or crank the engine with a remote start switch on the fender relay, with the key OFF.
May have to watch that as some and I don't know if our trucks are wired this way or not, when the SOL is engaged it sends a full 12 volts to the coil for a hotter spark for faster starting.


If doing the "starter button" I would pull the 2 small wires from the SOL "S" & "I" studs.
BTW the "I" is for IGN and most likely goes to the coil.
The "S" is for start and when power is put to it it will pull in the SOL.
Dave ----
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 04:48 PM
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I think Franklin2 is on to something. The aftermarket starter did not include shims and we have yet to hear whether the sheetmetal plate still exists. When the "original" starter was replaced, were there any shims in it ? Gear depth to gear depth engagement is all well and good as long as it doesn't cause either gear to wrong either's axis rotation (too deep,tight, causing a bind). Stainless shims are readily available. I'm not sure what timing has to due with it other than a jumped gear tooth. When gear seats into gear, regardless if it's too deep, wear patterns mean very little, unless wear shows below the valley, between the teeth. When they don't seat, that's the time to worry about gear pattern wear.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 04:55 PM
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If timing is too far advanced the motor will "kick back" and can be thought of binding.
It is easy to see if it is timing kick back by not having spark go to the plugs.


As for the shims I have not looked into this but I can only see it keeping the starter gear from going into far as they would have to go between starter & bell housing.
How could it change how far the teeth go into each other?
Dave ----
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 05:20 PM
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
If timing is too far advanced the motor will "kick back" and can be thought of binding.
It is easy to see if it is timing kick back by not having spark go to the plugs.


As for the shims I have not looked into this but I can only see it keeping the starter gear from going into far as they would have to go between starter & bell housing.
How could it change how far the teeth go into each other?
Dave ----
but I can only see it keeping the starter gear from going into far
Shims back the entire housing away, therefore backing the gear away.
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by WhatsAChevy?
but I can only see it keeping the starter gear from going into far
Shims back the entire housing away, therefore backing the gear away.
Yes that I know and what I meant by "too far" is not how far the starter gear pushes out into the ring gear.


It is the way the gears mesh on how deep the teeth go into each other when engaged. The GM shims/starters do just that how far the teeth go into each other.
See what I am saying? I know clear as mudd right?
Dave ----
 
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Old Oct 11, 2016 | 09:09 PM
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Originally Posted by FuzzFace2
Yes that I know and what I meant by "too far" is not how far the starter gear pushes out into the ring gear.


It is the way the gears mesh on how deep the teeth go into each other when engaged. The GM shims/starters do just that how far the teeth go into each other.
See what I am saying? I know clear as mudd right?
Dave ----
Not sure what you are getting at, as the bendix gear in the starter can only be "meshed" with the flywheel as the starter housing will allow. It's a fixed gear, on a fixed shaft within the starter housing. The only "mesh depth" adjustment (-) or outwards, is achieved by shimming the housing. If there is another way, I'm all ears.
 
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