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I have 1980 F150. Nothing special, but runs fine.
I tried to start it yesterday. I could hear starter running, but not engaging engine. Kinda sounded like it was missing gears.
Had older battery tested (bad). Put in new battery. Ran it overnight at 2 AMPs.
Same result. Tried jumping starter solenoid and same result.
I have left the battery charging at 10 amps for a couple of hours. Battery tests 13.25v resting.
Went and ahead and put new starter relay in wire brushing all the connections. Same result.
Give it a few whacks with a hammer and try it again.
lf it still doesn't work, repeat Step 1 until you get tired of doing it and then pull the starter.
But first...
Did you check the voltage at the starter during cranking? Make sure the connections are clean and tight? Look over the ring gear for missing teeth? The Bendix (the shooty-outy part)? Have someone crank it while you're watching? You can do the first and last things w a remote starter switch.
Sometimes you can just clean the crud out of an old starter on the bench and check it's operation (connect a battery). If it's FUBAR, we'll, then it's replacement time.
More than likely the bendix on the starter is bad. The gear assembly on the end of the starter is called the bendix. It has a one-way bearing in it, where the starter can turn the flywheel and engine, but the engine and flywheel can't turn the starter, in case someone holds on to the key a little longer than they should. This one-way bearing can go bad and it will not drive in either direction. If you replace the starter, it will come with a new bendix.
DO NOT THROW AWAY that old starter solenoid!
The new ones you get today are junk unless you ask for top of the line one when you got yours.
You have to ask or they will give you the cheap one.
I am running a NAPA top of the line one and they were shocked when I asked for it because it was more money.
I have not had any issues since I installed it.
You did not say what motor or transmission you have but before you get to crazy swapping more parts out try turning the motor a little by hand.
Sometimes you can grab the fan & belts and turn it a little.
If a manual transmission put it in gear and push it a little to turn the motor.
Then see if the starter will turn the motor over.
If it dose there could be some teeth missing on the flywheel.
If it still will not crank then replace the starter.
Dave ----
I'm sure Franklin2 nailed it under #4. The bendix or now days more commonly called the starter drive is bad.
You got a suggestion to save the old solenoid. I suggest you save the old starter and just replace the bendix, that is if the starter was working good before you had this problem. The only trick to changing the bendix is don't pull the armature back out of the brushes, as it is a beast to get the front of the armature back in the brushes. You may not want to try this now but may want to save the old starter if the core charge isn't too high and change the bendix later.
How many bolts are in this starter? I removed the one wire. Removed one easy to see bolt. Another bolt hole I can see has no bolt. Is there a third bolt on top somewhere I can't see?
How many bolts are in this starter? I removed the one wire. Removed one easy to see bolt. Another bolt hole I can see has no bolt. Is there a third bolt on top somewhere I can't see?
Stock 302 starters are held to the bell housing with two bolts. They bolt through two "ears" on the starter not quite directly across from each other.
There should be only those two holes visible. If one bolt is missing, that might be part of your problem. If the bolts are out and the starter is stuck, get a hammer.
If you replace the starter be aware that your standard transmission starter is not the same as an automatic transmission starter. Your truck's starter drive is longer than an automatic's.
Your starter should have two mount bolts, per RockAuto's listing for a 1980 F150 302:
Image shamelessly stolen from RockAuto.com
Not sure why it won't come free with the bolts removed. That missing bolt is going to cause trouble, though. The starter will flex away from the flywheel when engaged, and would cause all sorts of grinding and associated horrible noises.
You'll still want to pull the starter and inspect the drive gear for any damage due to an improper mesh with the flywheel. If good, you may be able to reuse the existing starter, after you take care of the missing bolt.
