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It’s been suggested that I post in the Bullnose forum.
1987 F250 LB 2WD Auto. Starter issues-when you turn the key it starts to turn over, maybe fire then the starter gear disengages and starter spins. Replaced battery, solenoid and starter. Same thing. Inspection of flywheel teeth show they look good but front edge (where starter gear engages) is a bit rounded off.
I tried to bypass all wiring issues and jumped directly from battery to starter and same issue.
Trying to figure out if maybe I have the wrong starter and the gears aren’t matching properly.
Although online specs say this should be fuel injected, it has a carburettor, distributor and coil. The F250 forum suggested it could be a factory 460 during year/model change over.
My question-what could be the issue and are there different starters that although they bolt up, the gears/shaft length are different and if so how do I properly match a starter?
It was also suggested that possibly the new starter has a bad Bendix and I should try another?
Trying to figure out if maybe I have the wrong starter and the gears aren’t matching properly.
Although online specs say this should be fuel injected, it has a carburettor, distributor and coil.
Could the engine have been swapped from an earlier model? That might account for some of the confusion.
Not sure how to determine which starter is required for whatever flywheel ring gear is installed. OOTD (One Of The Daves) should be along shortly to assist.
One troubling thought: Where are you getting your starters? Even if the part is correct for your application, are these "remanufactured" units from a discount chain, with a lifetime warranty? Note the sarcastic use of quotation marks, expressing my complete lack of confidence in the product offering, which is typically just new brushes, a fresh coat of paint, and a spiffy cardboard box. The business model for the lifetime warranty includes a dispenser rack with rollers, similar to milk jugs in a big grocery store, to reduce labor expenses while store personnel keep handing you equally worthless replacements. Or perhaps they are new Chinese parts, also from a discount chain, with an equally dismal reliability record?
Hello again, I believe there’s a difference between starters for manual or automatic transmissions.
the first step is figuring out what motor and transmission you have so you can be sure of your starter selection. Providing a photo of the VIN and manufacturing sticker on the door jamb, along with any emissions stickers under the hood will help. Otherwise, if it’s a 3 speed automatic transmission it’s most likely a “C6”.
From personal experience (mine is technically an ‘87 too), if it turns out to be a factory carbed 460 with a C6 transmission use 1986 for the model year when ordering parts. Order up a starter for an ‘86 and see if it’s a different part number. That could be your problem.
I don't understand the problem. It turns over, and starts to fire and the starter disengages? I certainly hope the starter disengages if the engine tries to start. The starter bendix is designed so the starter can turn the engine, but the engine cannot turn the starter. So maybe the starter is working?
You say the engine fires up, the starter disengages, but still seems to spin ?
There is an issue with some Subaru starters where we had to grease the shaft the Bendix slides on to stop that. You take it apart and grease the splines on the inside.
You say the engine fires up, the starter disengages, but still seems to spin ?
The sequence of events seems a bit murky. Thinking about it a bit more, it sounds like when the ignition starts to fire, the flywheel speeds up as normal and kicks out the starter as designed. But the engine doesn't consistently stay running, but the starter keeps running on its own. If I understand the scenario correctly, there may be more than one active fault.
One big question: Has the starter consistently worked correctly for you at any recent time? Trying to get a feel if you've owned the truck a long time and it recently started acting up. Or maybe this was somebody else's derelict project and you're trying to get it back on the road. Or something in between. Some recent history would help.
To begin, I'd make sure the starter system can reliably get the crankshaft spinning at a good speed. Whether the engine actually runs is somewhat immaterial until the starter system is happy and doing its job. More details here, which includes disabling the ignition to take that out of the equation, in case your poor starter is fighting against kickback from improper ignition timing:
You might think there's no point in running that test, but do it anyway. Sometimes, if a starter is lacking oomph when first engaged, it gets partially kicked back from the flywheel and doesn't properly engage.
You mentioned replacing the starter relay (aka solenoid). What brand did you install? Some are junk straight out of the box and don't always release as they should. Some light reading here:
Someone said check if there are manual & autos starters.
I dont think there are for the 460 motors but you can check easy enough.
Look up starters for a 460 motor and the 2 different transmissions on line auto parts stores.
I would also look up starters and say 84 or 85 460 motor / trans then try 88 460 / trans.
Unless it is a gear reduction starter,maybe for the 88? I am thinking they will be the same.
I do think what Karl said about the starter "kick back" is what is happening.
I also think the "new" starter and not so new LOL
Bad bendix and a rebuilt starter?
I would look in to new and not rebuilt and see what that gets you.
Dave ----
Sorry-got busy with family issues-back working on truck. We bought the truck two years ago as a teenager work truck. It started pretty well but often the starter would spin but not engage flex plate. Eventually it stopped turning engine at all. Replaced battery, solenoid and starter-all from local NAPA with mid-level priced items.
New starter started truck once and then back to same problem-turning key causes starter to spin nicely but not turning motor over. Removed starter and saw the tip of front edge of some teeth were ground off-as if the pinion is either not extending out all the way or it’s diameter is to small and not touching flex plate.
searching threads found after the flex plate is changed during work on the truck. I have not yet counted flex plate teeth but am pretty sure motor is a 460 and trans is K 3 speed auto.
one very old thread mentioned a different starter from a non-defunct parts source-can’t remember the name. Some threads mentioned 9 tooth vs 10 tooth.
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