Starter ? Need daily driver help.

Ok so this weekend I had the starter out of my '64 Falcon wagon, (170, A/T). When I put it back in all it wants to do is grind, and it won't disengage once the car starts. I went ahead and replaced the starter, and all the ***ociated cables, same problem. I'm thinkin' it may need a spacer? I don't know I've never had a problem like this before, and was hopin' maybe someone here could help me out. Everything worked fine before I took it apart.It's my daily, so a quick response would be appreciated. Thanks, Barn-core.

 

does it bolt on like a chevy or like a normal ford? both the new and old starter were not disengaging proper? there are shims for ford starter in the HELP! section, but rarely do they solve it. chevy on the other hand...

 

Did you have your OEM unit rebuilt, or get an exchange? Could be the armature length is wrong if it was an exchange from a parts house. Might want to track down a measurement and check that.

When you pull it, is the drive stuck in engage to where you can feel it hanging onto the flex plate? If so, might have a bad drive on it.

If everything checks out on the starter I would then look at a hanging solenoid, but if everything worked good before its probably in the starter itself.

 

Have you checked the solenoid on the fender well?
Take the starter cable off the solenoid and jump to the hot side of battery and see if the bendix is working on the starter.

 

To clear up any confusion both the old and new starters have the same problem. I replaced all the components including the fenderwell mounted solenoid, no luck. Today I tried by-p***ing the ignition, and the solenoid, same problem. I'm really stumped on this one guys, anyone else got any suggestions. Thanks, Barn-core.

 

Wait, did the old starter EVER work right on this car? Or did it just suddenly start doing this out of the blue one day?

Another suggestion: When you yank your starter the next time, take a look at the flex plate teeth and see if they are all mangled to where it would make it hard for the drive to let go.

 

The old starter worked perfectly before it was removed. The only reason it was removed was because I was changing out the exhaust manifold, and it made it more accessable with the starter out of the way.

 

bttt, HELP!

 

maybe you could experiment with trying to move the starter a bit, tighten it & try it again. my chrysler's starter does the grinding thing only about once every other month when its a certain temp, time of day, barometric pressure and parked on the slightest uphill spot. enough to freak me out but not frequent enough to try to mess with it. are the bolts different lengths or diameters? maybe they got mixed up? not sure dude, just throwing out ideas.

 

If you have two starters now or the one out, when it gets like this for me I like to bench test. If the starter throws and spins on the bench without a hang up, free bendix etc and reliable, put it back nice, and maybe ground strap some clean metal to the battery negative.
Starters need all the current they can get.

 

Barn-Core,

I understand that both starters are doing this, correct? If that is the case, it sounds like you need to double check that solenoid and it's wiring. Are you sure they are OK? May even be a problem at the ignition switch.
Not the same problem, but and example that might help: I had a door solenoid that would engage/stay engaged and keep the damn door open all the time. Turned out it was a problem in the keyed switch (an old ignition switch) that I was using to activate it...wouldn't let the solenoid "arm" retract into the housing...most of the time.
Replaced the cheapo switch, problem solved.
Just some ideas.

silas