More Drama.....

[Anonymous]

I'm an over the road trucker. This month I was out for almost all month. Yesterday, I got out of the truck and into my Maverick for a short trek home. It typically has a dry fuel line and empty carb bowl. So I turned the key and turned the engine over, once, twice then the third time, nothing. Just the soleniod click. Then I had the battery charged and tried again, thinking the battery was low. Now I get the wind of a starter but no engine engagement. I am going to change the starter tomorrow, any suggestions of what else I should look at? Also the engine is a 250 with a C4 trans, will the 5.0 small diameter starter fit? If so, what part number should I get?

Thanks and Merry Christmas,
Ken

 

[jahearne]

I'm a newbie to the 250, so I don't know about the 5.0 starter. I have V8 T5 behind mine, so it has a 5.0 starter in it.
I used to bench test my old starters in vice and use a set of jumper cables to see if the bendix engages. It might be stuck or have a broken spring.

 

[JackFish]

Now I have no personal experience with this, but I have read that perhaps it could just be stuck and needs a loving whack with a BFH.

 

[The Plankster Prankster]

do you hear the starter motor wind up at all? you will if the starter is turning at all. if not, youre probably not getting power to the starter, either by a bad wire or a bad solenoid. i've had both happen in trucks - in mine the wire was broke inside the insulation and looked fine till i pulled on it - gave me the same symptoms, so thats the first thing i'd chesk
--josh

 

[hasa68mustang]

Now I have no personal experience with this, but I have read that perhaps it could just be stuck and needs a loving whack with a BFH.

My dads truck had this problem for a while and the BFH method didnt help, but maybe it will for him

 

[rbohm]

8) as starters age, the mechanism that pushes the starter gear forward tens to stick. sometimes tapping it with a hammer will free it up, sometimes not. either way a replacement starter should be instlled at this point. and yes any starter that fits the small block ford also fits the 250 and low mount starter 200's.

 

[Anonymous]

Well, I went to NAPA and bought a starter and an electric fuel pump. I pulled the starter out of the car, I have never seen a starter with such damage. I noticed the ring gear wasn't hurt so I replaced the starter and off I went. Now I am going to remove the starter and pull out some floating metal that was left someplace in the flywheel area. I am also going to replace the mechanical fuel pump with the electric pump, so I can fill the carb without using the starter.
Thanks for your help,
Ken

 

[Mercury Mike]

I'd be willing to bet you 5$ that the starter that took 2 of my torque converter's teeth was way more damaged than yours! It's last day of life was "thump thump thump thump thump thump WHIZZZZZZZZZZZ" Oh well.... hehe

 

[matt1967]

8) as starters age, the mechanism that pushes the starter gear forward tens to stick. sometimes tapping it with a hammer will free it up, sometimes not. either way a replacement starter should be instlled at this point. and yes any starter that fits the small block ford also fits the 250 and low mount starter 200's.

starter drive/ bendix drive, more than likely replaceable on this particular starter, probably around $8 bucks or so, that's around what they normally are.

 

[matt1967]

Well, I went to NAPA and bought a starter and an electric fuel pump. I pulled the starter out of the car, I have never seen a starter with such damage. I noticed the ring gear wasn't hurt so I replaced the starter and off I went. Now I am going to remove the starter and pull out some floating metal that was left someplace in the flywheel area. I am also going to replace the mechanical fuel pump with the electric pump, so I can fill the carb without using the starter.
Thanks for your help,
Ken

the starter drive was spinning when it engauged into the flywheel, the way the drive is engauged is thru an electromagnent, like a solonoid but without the electrical switch function, probably got stuck or corroded and never broke contact.