'65 Buick Nailhead starter problem

I have a '65 Buick Wildcat with a 401. When I turn the key to the off postion where you withdraw the key, the starter keeps turning over, won't disengage.

I put in a new starter switch and it was okay for a few days then the problem started again. A bum replacement starter switch??

Solenoid?

 

George,
I went through a simular issue with the 401 Nailhead in my "A" Sedan. Mine turned out to be that the starter drive was was to tight when engaged into the flywheel, and would just keep turning the engine until I disconnected the battery cable.

The fact that your issue stopped after replacing the starter switch would leave me to believe that the switch is at fault again.

Glenn

 

So what did you do? Reposition the starter slightly?

 

Probably the snap ring is off of the shaft and it lets the drive go over-centre and stay in the ring gear. It will just turn over till the battery goes dead or you take off a battery cable .

 

Yes, I had to take and file the shoulder area on the starter housing that fit's in the block to allow mme to ever-so-slightly increase the gap in the starter-to-ring-gear tooth contact, which solved my issue.
Glenn

 

This is usually due to a low voltage condition in the switch or starter relay causing the contacts in the solenoid to stick.

 

bTT