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When I try to start my truck, it won't start and it sounds like the starter is just spining. Is it the starter itself or could it be something else like the solenoid?
The bendix is the gear assembly on the end of the starter. It has a one-way clutch/bearing, so the starter can drive the flywheel, but the flywheel/engine can't drive the starter. If this clutch goes bad, it can just sit there and spin. Cross your fingers and hope you don't have any teeth missing on the flywheel.
In the starter is a one way bearing to allow the starter motor gear to drive the flywheel. The bearing is no good. R/R means to remove and replace the item.
Crap....this just occured to me: when I bought the truck, the flywheel had to be replaced because of this similar problem. What could be causing this to happen?
I don't see where you specified the year, model and engine in your truck but, in the 351W and, I think 302, manual transmissions and automatics required different starters and they were not interchangable. If you have the wrong starter in there that could be the cause of your problem.
I haven't had a chance to get up under the truck yet, but do you know what size socket I'll need to get on the bolts holding the starter? Is it as simple as removing the old starter and installing the new one, or are there other steps I need to be aware of? (This is the first time I've done any work like this on a truck.)