Note there are different starters for manual & auto transmissions for the SB motors - 300 / 302 / 351.
I wonder if O'R does not list 2 starters?
Dave ----

 

O'R does list two different ones for auto/manual. I've been using the manual once since I have a T18 manual. I have swapped out the starter again, so this is the 3rd 'new' starter. It started fine, no grindy noises and it doesn't click with the clutch pedal pressed anymore, so maybe it's fine now? I'm gonna drive it to work today and see how she does.

 

Ah, those lifetime guarantee reman starters, means you spend your lifetime changing starters.

Third time is a charm! Good luck!

 

Just like the front CV axles for a honda civic. At least the next ones are free... no matter how many you need, my record is 4 to get a good one. Seem to recall the reman was $40 lifetime warranty. Back about 20 years ago. My son worked at Advance Auto Parts for a short time.

 

3rd time was not the charm. Today the truck didn't want to start, but then after a few tries it did. I got it home thankfully and then just started it over and over again. Starter only wanted to engage half the time. Replaced the solenoid to see if that was it, didn't fix it. I took the starter out and turned the motor over and inspected the flywheel, no damage, and I also counted the teeth to make sure it was a 164 tooth flywheel like how it's supposed to be. I'm over it at this point, I'm just gonna return the starter to work and spend the money on a nice mini starter off of Summit.

 

Are the symptoms the same with each failed start attempt? When the starter does behave, does it get the crankshaft spinning at a good consistent speed? Or is it slow or erratic? When it doesn’t engage, does the starter itself seems to spin okay but the gear isn’t engaging? I remember at least one of your failed starters had a bad clutch drive, so it would spin but couldn’t turn the crankshaft.

I'm no fan of “lifetime” starters, but it’s hard to believe you’d have so many fail so quickly. Before turning another wrench, run this simple voltage drop test:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...w-starter.html


The repeated failures make me wonder if there is an external factor killing all those starters in quick succession. The test will take maybe all of ten minutes and will make sure the electrical side of the equation is up to snuff.

You mentioned replacing the starter relay. Be sure to hang on to the old one, as many new ones have VERY poor durability.

You also mentioned you’re looking at getting one of those new mini starters. Some guys swear by them but my experience with OEM starters has been phenomenal. The original had performed flawlessly for 30+ years. I tried replacing the brushes to freshen it up and sadly discovered it’s not easily done by the home mechanic. I ended up replacing it with a Motorcraft reman ($90?) which has continued to operate perfectly.

 

When the starter would engage, it would be a good constant turn over, and sounded fine. When I took it into work yesterday we hooked it up to a jump pack and we could see that most of the time the bendix wouldn't kick out far enough, it would only kick all the way out sometimes. Also I have a buddy with an 85 F150 with a 351W as well, and he had to go through about 3 o'reillys starters before getting a good one, so I doubt it's something with my truck killing it, the starters are just junkkk.

 

Are they all rebuilt or new starters?
Dave ----

 

Per RockAuto, your truck and mine ('84 F250HD 351W T-18) both take the same starter. Here's the Motorcraft reman I'm running with zero problems:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=4152&jsn=550

Amazon had it, too:



(Note: That is a generic picture in the Amazon listing)

 

google the ford number,
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Motorcraf...F150/115309728

 

I still say any good reman starter you get, is one that was turned in that did not have a problem in the first place.


I have had good success with this place. https://www.dbelectrical.com/starters/

 

Well so far the Powermaster starter I got from Summit has been serving me well. It was $240 but if that's what it takes to have reliable starting then so be it. I knew that the O'Reilly starter would probably be a bit sus, didn't expect it to be this bad.

 

Great to hear. Sad to see you have to pay that much to get a working starter...