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1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Bumpsides Ford Truck

Engine cranking

Old Mar 13, 2017 | 07:31 PM
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Engine cranking

Hello,
thanks everyone for the help with my transmission issues. But today I tried start my freshly rebuilt engine and it is cranking really slow I replaced the starter solinoid and it still isn't turning fast enough and after a few seconds the wires start getting hot. I talked to a mechanic I know and he said that my starter is to old and weak to crank the new engine. Does that sound accurate to everyone. I don't want to have to buy something if it's not the issue.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2017 | 07:46 PM
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Engine might be a little tight until it breaks in. Does it crank faster if you hook a jumper car to your battery? To me, hot wires means they're too small or you don't have enough volts.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2017 | 07:55 PM
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It could be a bum starter, or as mentioned a tight engine is the problem. Another thing to check, if the ignition timing is real advanced, it will turn over slow "kickback", as well. Try grounding the coil wire and see if it spins OK then, to rule that out. Welcome to FTE btw
 
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Old Mar 13, 2017 | 08:16 PM
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Slow crank

Your starter is "dragging", the armature is contacting the field windings because the bushings are worn. When the engine was worn and easy to turn the starter was able to work.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2017 | 11:37 PM
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When doing a good rebuild it's best to replace the fuel pump, old water pump,
starting motor, old Alternator, all hoses. clean radiator. This way everything should be trouble free for yrs to come.
But most people don't do this and just put up with replacing parts when they get stuck along the road side and get tow home or to a shop.

I'd say replace the starting motor & Check your timing!

Orich
 
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 08:03 AM
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Yea my battery was dead and I put a fresh battery in it and it still spins to slow. If it spins faster when I ground out the coil does that mean I just don't have a sufficient grounding? And I'm not very experienced with timing. I just got piston 1 to tdc and turned it back about 13 degrees.
 
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 08:33 AM
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Suppose you could pull the starter and have it tested at a shop, a lot of the auto parts stores will do that for free. Kind of have to use your judgment. If the starter is ancient, has a lot of hard miles and use, etc, it's a safe bet it needs rebuilding or has seen better days. It's actually pretty easy with all the YT videos and websites. The remanufactured starters are a crapshoot these days. A coat of paint will only take ya so far.
 
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by 6869hoss
Yea my battery was dead and I put a fresh battery in it and it still spins to slow. If it spins faster when I ground out the coil does that mean I just don't have a sufficient grounding? And I'm not very experienced with timing. I just got piston 1 to tdc and turned it back about 13 degrees.
Reset your timing to about 6*for first startup. Points fire when they open not close. Many guys make this mistake when replacing the dizzy.

Orich
 
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 09:57 AM
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It can't hurt to add grounding. To me it sounds like your starter is the problem. Do the positive cables get hot. I had them smoke before using a starter from the junkyard. I made them give me one that wasn't junk. Good luck
 
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 12:16 PM
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Tedster9, Could the OP disconnect the juice from the coil and give the motor a crank? (And wrap the wire's end so it doesn't arc on some metal since it's now dangling.) Of course, setting the timing to 6 BTDC should be slow enough.

OP, just to be sure, might want to check volts on your new battery...should be over 12.6 volts with no load. And make sure that much is coming through the starter solenoid...they sometimes get weak...even if it is new.

If the two above items don't fix it, then wouldn't hurt to check the brushes on your starter...might just be stuck and not adjusting. I've seen starter brushes on Honda 4 wheelers stick within 2 years of install. Just wiggle the brushes, add a little WD40 and reinstall.
 
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 01:06 PM
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Cranking

I have posted this method to save time.
Remove the spark plugs and plug them on the wires and lay them on the manifold. If you have a dwell meter you will be able to get the points dead on the setting by spinning the engine, put the cap and rotor on and spin the engine to set the timing.
And if you have not done it yet quit fooling around with that old starter, go to NAPA.
 
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Old Mar 14, 2017 | 01:52 PM
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6869hoss,

Just checked your other posts. Is the engine you're asking about a 5.0? What is your static compression? Shouldn't make any difference to your cranking problem...just curious.

Have you run your newly built engine at all?
 
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 07:56 AM
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I've not checked the compression but the engine is stiff and when I hand turn it you can hear the exhaust valves open and release the air. And when cranking the wire to the starter gets really hot. I'm going to try getting a new starter today and see if that is the issue.
 
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 08:08 AM
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If you can hand turn it then it's not all that tight. Be done with it an get a starter.

Orich
 
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Old Mar 15, 2017 | 08:18 AM
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Do yourself a favor and replace the cables while you're at it. Block, firewall, solenoid, frame.
 
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