OK, guys kind of frustrated here. I had a bad starter, no brainier so I go a reman one from NAPA. It failed after a few starts and got it swapped out. DId new batteries as one was bad and also redid my battery posts on the PASS side.

The new started just failed again, I could hear it spinning super fast, I tried hitting it again again and again......IT would engage then just spin........I hit it with a hammer as my daughter was cranking it and she sun p and started the 7.3L So my question is.....what am I missing here? Is therr another solenoid under the hood like a gas burner that could be causing the voltage drop? Maybe a bad cable?

178K on the odometer, she sits and does not get driven a lot.

 

Your problem is buying the Napa reman starter. The remans are nothing but trouble. I would have bought a new Denso starter https://cncfab.us/i-30497609-denso-g...8000-8420.html

 

I bought 5 NAPA gear reduction starters over 2.5 years in the 1990s for my '87 Land Cruiser. I finally got my cash back from NAPA and bought a Denso reman at the dealer for $30 less. The NAPA guy admitted that their starters weren't the best....no kidding.

 

so I did "upgrade" from the REMAN to a new one.........still think I am buying crappy parts? I am not sure what to think.

 

Buy once and cry once!

Denso gear reduction starter...

My experience with the Denso. Not a knockoff China special...

 

Probably worse than new! The NEW is a Chinese Denso clone, same as the ones on Ebay. Buy a genuine NEW Denso and be done with it.

 

This^^^

Just be aware that you will need slightly longer bolts to fully engage the threads in the bell housing. These can be found at any hardware store as they are a common size. I forget the size right now, but I have a thread that details the longer bolts with pictures and sizes.

 

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NNE4...dInput=starter


So they call it a Nippon-Denso,



knock off or not?

 

^^^^^This! I tried not installing the longer bolts and it loosened up on me.

Also I installed the knock off and it has been holding up great.

 

Thats a knock off, its a clone.

 

roger that, thanks guys

 

Not to contradict the well-deserving reputation of these guys here nor the authentic denso in every 7.3 page out there, but just to throw another quality option is the OEM starter. The 3 bolt Mitsubishi starters that came from the factory were pretty stout in reliability IMO. Mine was removed at 300k+ mi only because I sheared the small wire post off when removing to address the dipstick adapter leak repair. I jerry-rigged it to working order during re-install but when I got to replacing positive battery cables, I went ahead and replaced the starter. I was set on biting the bullet on a real Denso initially but flattening the brand new cable end didn't set well with me (fiddle sticks I know but I'm a fiddle stick kind of guy and I'm okay with that). Nonetheless, I decided not to abandon the tried and true Mitsu at a cheaper price point. J&S Diesel out of Las Vegas had a new Mitsu M8T50072 unit relatively cheap. @jstihl on here confirmed it was new and not reman. I was uncertain when I had come across it before so I ended up with a reman one from Rock Auto. It looks like the unit at J&S is not in stock. Price is listed now as $0.00???? Word must've got out...
https://jandsdiesel.com/new-starter-...2-high-torque/

My reman motorcraft from RA is a Mitsubishi M8T50072 reman replaced last December. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...362631&jsn=481
Over 10k mi on it and it still turns faster than the one it replaced and as fast as what I see in videos of the real Denso. I knew for certain I was not going to risk wasting my time with box store remans, but did hear enough good things on the MC remans to gain confidence in this decision. That's all subjective to go with the good (still arguably the best) recommendation above to help in your decision. Good luck!

 

Youl have to flatten out and slightly moon shape the power terminal to the starter, and put a 90 in the control wire terminal.

buy m10x1.5 45(if you can find) or 50mm bolts and washers including lock washer. Its heavier and more of a pain than factory size starter but def worth it. It wont look like its going to fit but it does.

 

Ope! I stand corrected, @jstihl reported in post #11 of that thread I was recollecting that it was actually a reman mitsu starter from J&S. Here's the conversation should anyone be interested...
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...r-starter.html

@SkySkiJason brought up a good point in that thread to argue justifying the true Denso in that it's DIY rebuildable.

 

Pics from my 2003 thread