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Hey everyone. New here and fairly new to the old truck world. I’ve got a 1979 f250 with a 351m. For some reason the starter does not fire properly. It doesn’t jump out far enough to engage the fly wheel properly so actually getting the truck started is few and far between. The starter has been replaced more than once. Battery is good. I’ve looked at the wire connections from the battery to the starter and they’re all good. I’ve really got no clue what is going on with it and why the starter doesn’t jump out properly.
any help would be greatly appreciated!
Do you know for sure that the starter isn’t reaching the ring gear? Could the ring gear teeth themselves be damaged?
Have you turned the engine over by hand slightly to see if it changes?
Next time you take the starter out take a good look at the teeth and rotate the engine by hand to check them all.
Welcome to FTE. Are you 100% sure you are using the correct starter? You do know there is a difference in a auto or manual trans starter. Are you using the cheapest starter you can get or at least the best one the auto parts house sells? Did you replace the old starter with the same brand or just what ever the parts house had on hand.
1Ton is absolutely right about inspecting the fly wheel teeth for damage. Best way IMO is to remove the starter, and you get under there (while some one else turns the motor over, by hand). With a breaker bar/socket on the crank bolt holding the pulley on.
Mark the fly wheel with a yellow paint marker, and have them turn it over in small enough increments for you to be able to insp the flywheel teeth very well. Doing this will rule out the possibility that you have a damaged flywheel causing the issue.
Lastly have you had the starter off the truck and connect a battery charger to it to confirm the starter gear is not coming out far enough?
Some folks say "The bolt for the negative on 351M/400s is right in front, switching it to the back of the block or to a bellhousing bolt will improve continuity and give you more power to turn the starter."
Make sure all your elec connections are clean and solid also.
Right now they are damaged because of the issue. They were both replaced at the same time about a year ago. Even when they were brand new the problem was still there.
I’ve taken the starter out and tried it with a battery and what happens is the ring gear just doesn’t fully engage. The battery has proper voltage but the gear will spin but not jump out.
is it worth trying to rebuild this starter or just try and get the best new one I can? Obviously I need to replace the fly wheel as well which I have been planning on doing.
I'm nervous to drop a bunch of money getting all of it replaced just to have it keep happening.
I have been going through all the electrical trying to check, I don’t have much experience so I don’t always know if it looks good or bad.
You did not say auto or manual transmission?
What ever you have to replace the fly wheel or flex plate.
Before you install the starter measure from the starter mounting face to the teeth.
Then measure the starter from its mounting and push the gear out to the teeth.
If not close then you got something amiss and needs to be fixed before the starter goes in.
Dave ----
If the problem was still there after replacing the starters, then I would say yes the flywheel is damaged. If the starter ring gear does not come all the way out, the starter needs rebuilt or replaced. Yes you can rebuild it, I am sure rebuild kits are available.
I have a local elec guru that rebuilds old school vehicle generators, alternators and 6v or 12v starters. So it can be done, I am sure U tube has a Ford truck starter rebuild video.
