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May 22, 2004 | 04:07 AM

71_4x4_390

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Tuned

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From: Dudley, GA

Fried starter

OK, lemme see if anyone can give me some info. I cooked my starter and had to rebuild it so I can use it while I await a new one to arrive from the states. After a complete dismantling of it, I soldered a few internal wires togather that had melted, reassembled it and it spun up fine. Then I had to fix the arm that is magnatized to the body when power is applied sending the gear into the flywheel. Are you still with me? The contact that the arm hits and breaks open had melted off and I spliced a different one in it's place. Now I'm having problems getting it to acuate. Sometimes it does sometimes it don't. How close should the arm sit in relation to the contact and or the body? The shield holds it in place but there is no way to adjust it after it is on. My battery is fully charged to 12.75 volts. What does that contact do??? When everything works as advertised it is open (no contact), when power removed it is closed (contact made). Any advise on adjusting this darn thing??? I'm so close to getting it running!!! I can't be without wheels for two weeks!!! My original problem was a bad starter soliniod that refused to quit, and ate the gear drive on the starter...

Last edited by 71_4x4_390; May 22, 2004 at 04:14 AM.

May 23, 2004 | 05:15 PM

71_4x4_390

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Tuned

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From: Dudley, GA

Apparently I know more about rebuilding starters than most! They're not that hard to do, I bet the majority of folks replace them when they could have rebuilt it themselves. No big deal, my new one will be here in a few days...

May 23, 2004 | 10:36 PM

comet

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From: seattle us

Yeah, they are so cheap over here and the Ford starters are considered by most people to be the worst of the big 3. I have not rebuilt these, but done a few GM styles years ago. Different animal and I have no clue about how close the arm should be. Sorry. Maybe you should get a spare while your at it. Or maybe take the replacement apart and study it for you answers and keep it as a spare.

May 23, 2004 | 10:57 PM

fordinlinesix

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Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 379

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From: Azle, TX

Yeah, they're not hard, I've found out that all the rebuild kits are cheap, I've had more problems than I can count, but it's not like there's anything you can do about it.

May 24, 2004 | 12:19 AM

71_4x4_390

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Tuned

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From: Dudley, GA

I've given up, and will just have to wait for my new one. Come on NAPA!!! This is the last item on the motor that wasn't replaced during my rebuild, how's that for luck? I have successfully rebuilt them but not after a complete meltdown! Too much damage.

D. from Spain

Jul 7, 2004 | 08:36 PM

baitmaster

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From: nevada

When I dropped in my rebuilt 390, everything on outside of motor was replaced. Starter, water pump, belts, hoses, carb, wiring, etc. My next starter will be one of the high torque models, more expensive, but much longer life and much smaller. I now have to loosen header on that side to get starter out. One thing I did when I last installed the starter was wrap it with high temp fire wrap cloth to keep some of the header heat from it. Our auto part stores mostly offer a lifetime warranty on starters. If it goes bad, they give you a new one! Not bad for a $45 starter.

Jul 7, 2004 | 09:39 PM

rebocardo

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From: Atlanta GA

> This is the last item on the motor that wasn't replaced during my rebuild,
> how's that for luck

It is not luck, it is odds. When I buy a used Ford, the first two things I replace are the fuel pump and starter, then the points, condensor, and coil.