Bad Starter and cannot remove
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 246
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From: For School: Big Rapids,MI
Bad Starter and cannot remove
Hey guys i have a 78 F250 400 "m" with the C6.
the other day i hopped in my truck and started her up but since the choke is messed up it died on me (usually keep foot on gas to prevent this). Well i then started her up again and it sounded like the starter got stuck and couldnt spin (it would just click like gear lash i suppose) so i hopped out got a rubber mallet and hit the starter a few times to see if i could wiggle it free. Hopped into the truck, turned the key on it off, and it eventually worked its way free and started the truck up although it sounded like it was grinding badly. It has never done this before up until now.
Yestarday i attempted to remove the starter. one stud with a bolt ontop, and a bolt on the bottom. I can wiggle it but cannot get it to pull out. I have looked up new starters to make sure i have all the bolts out, which i do. Anyone have any ideas why it would all of a sudden make the grinding sound or how to pull the starter out since it is stuck?
the other day i hopped in my truck and started her up but since the choke is messed up it died on me (usually keep foot on gas to prevent this). Well i then started her up again and it sounded like the starter got stuck and couldnt spin (it would just click like gear lash i suppose) so i hopped out got a rubber mallet and hit the starter a few times to see if i could wiggle it free. Hopped into the truck, turned the key on it off, and it eventually worked its way free and started the truck up although it sounded like it was grinding badly. It has never done this before up until now.
Yestarday i attempted to remove the starter. one stud with a bolt ontop, and a bolt on the bottom. I can wiggle it but cannot get it to pull out. I have looked up new starters to make sure i have all the bolts out, which i do. Anyone have any ideas why it would all of a sudden make the grinding sound or how to pull the starter out since it is stuck?
Tuned
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 448
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I had the gear and bushings come apart in the end of the starter the bendex I think is what it is called. Anyway the pieces got stuck between the flywheel and where ever else the ended up. It took me under the truck and my dad from the top side with Pry bars working the starter out. And make sure the inside of the bellhousing is free of debris before you put the new starter in
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: For School: Big Rapids,MI
So i just got back to checking this and i realized that the top bolt is threaded into the starter.... i thought it just slid off haha oops. Well anyways took me awhile but i got the darn thing out pretty easy once i figured out that top bolt is threaded.
What a pain in the *** location. You have almost no hand room or any room to move a wrench. I am deffinately not looking forward to putting the new one back in.
Turns out i managed to break teeth off of the starter. However, my flywheel looks fine all the way around ( Thank god!!!).
Next question is, how do i get the broken teeth out? or should i even worry about them? My plan is to pull the engine within the next few months, however i just need a location since i dont have a garage
What a pain in the *** location. You have almost no hand room or any room to move a wrench. I am deffinately not looking forward to putting the new one back in.
Turns out i managed to break teeth off of the starter. However, my flywheel looks fine all the way around ( Thank god!!!).
Next question is, how do i get the broken teeth out? or should i even worry about them? My plan is to pull the engine within the next few months, however i just need a location since i dont have a garage
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 401
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From: Rockville, IN Temporarily
There should be a small inspection plate at the bottom of the transmission bell housing. A small magnetic wand may fit in to search around for the missing teeth. You want to get them all out otherwise they could cause damage to the new starter and or flex plate.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 868
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From: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
I long extension and a 1/2 inch swivel socket make getting to that one pretty easy. I have seen newer starters actually corrode and swell in the starter mount on the bell housing. Creates a WTF moment the first time you run into it.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Great American SouthWest
So i just got back to checking this and i realized that the top bolt is threaded into the starter.... i thought it just slid off haha oops. Well anyways took me awhile but i got the darn thing out pretty easy once i figured out that top bolt is threaded.
What a pain in the *** location. You have almost no hand room or any room to move a wrench. I am deffinately not looking forward to putting the new one back in.
What a pain in the *** location. You have almost no hand room or any room to move a wrench. I am deffinately not looking forward to putting the new one back in.
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: For School: Big Rapids,MI
There is alittle opening at the bottom of the bell housing (just going off memory so might be wrong location). I can see the flywheel but deffinately dont think i could get a magnet in through there. Is this the inspection area that you are talking about or do i actually have to remove a piece of metal?
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Joined: Dec 2014
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From: spokane
Don't know about the 351/400 but on the fe in my 76 I have to remove half of my passenger side header to get the starter out...
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 868
Likes: 3
From: New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
You said a lot there, I had to take a starter apart, put the front in place then bolt on the body in order to get around the headers , getting it out was even worse, had to back off the tranny bolts.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Rockville, IN Temporarily
There is alittle opening at the bottom of the bell housing (just going off memory so might be wrong location). I can see the flywheel but deffinately dont think i could get a magnet in through there. Is this the inspection area that you are talking about or do i actually have to remove a piece of metal?
Typically but I am not certain of this there is a small section of the plate between the transmission bellhousing and engine block that can be taken off by removing two bolts. On your truck I am not certain.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Great American SouthWest
My 351m/C6 has an access panel on the front of the bell housing for the torque converter bolts. It's about 5" wide and 2.5" tall, and is secured with two screws-3/8 hex head
The panel is bottom center of the bell housing, in the plate that separates the engine from the transmission, and faces the front of the vehicle
There's very little clearance inside
The panel is bottom center of the bell housing, in the plate that separates the engine from the transmission, and faces the front of the vehicle
There's very little clearance inside
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