I have a starter that is dragging for about 3 seconds after starting the engine (78' F150).

The engine was just rebuilt and the starter is a new (reman) Autozone starter. The start turns fine, doesn't seem overloaded, always engages (never sat and spinned just yet), just seems like the pinion is staying engaged after starting.

I haven't taken the starter off and inspected the flexplate or the pinion on starter yet. I am just posting to ask a few questions before I start the normal troubleshooting here...

1. Do shims ever get used on 385 series (or any) ford engines? Nothing online or in my books about washers or shims

2. Can I spray oil or white lithium on the ring gear around the flexplate?

3. What are the chances that the starter is the cause? It engages on the first try every time, the issue is just with disengaging and if I take the engine up to (1000 RPMs) or so the starter disengages.

Thanks in advance

 

I personaly have never used shims. Sounds like the bendix is sticking. Remember, just because a part is new or rebuilt doesn't mean it can't and won't screw up.

 

I no longer have the dragging issue...but I was at AutoZone earlier today and saw that "Help!" manufactures a Ford Starter shim kit. It contained a small ring abuot 3" across or so and a large one (diamater of the starter on my 460).

 

I have one of those shims. Their mainly for people like myself who enjoy the lower cost of a starter that is meant for a standard transmission even though they have an automatic. The starter for the standard is just a little longer in the snout than the one for the automatic, but otherwise it's the same. The shim just keeps the flexplate from grinding on the starter housing/snout once you begin cranking. These shims arent like the ones on the chevys (yuck) which distance the gears apart from each other. Unlike Chevrolet (which was started by good ol Henry himself...immagine that!) Ford Motor Company actually had some smarties working for them in the R&D dept who got the distance right the first time. (j/k)