Starter or Flywheel?

[kwagner_51]

About a month ago I bought a 1985 Ranger 4 x 4 2.8L Manual transmission. When we bought it the starter was grinding. So my 17 y/o son replaced it. I also noticed that the steering gear was pouring PS Fluid out faster than we could put it in. There was a LOT of play in the box and the drag link. So I grounded the truck until my son could replace the gear.

We got the gear in the truck yesterday. When Jake tried to start it, the grinding noise was back. I had him take the starter out so I could inspect the teeth on the bendix gear. There was nothing wrong with them. However on the old starter [I still had it] there was a groove worn just above the gear in the aluminum nose area. To me that means that we have the wrong starter. It is too long for the flywheel/transmission. Jake also told me that he had to keep tightening the bolts on the starter because the kept coming loose. When they are loose, the starter grinds. He said he needed shims for the starter. I told him Ford doesn’t use shims.

I started searching last night for the cause of our starter problems. I came to this website and would like to know what ya’ll think:

http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196042&highlight=Starter+Wiring

I talked to a Ford dealership today to see if there were different starters for that engine/transmission combo and he said no. So I’m thinking the flywheel has to be bad.

How hard is it to take that transmission out of this Ranger?

Thanks!!

Topic

[college man]

can you view the fly wheel teeth with the starter out?
have some one turn the crank bolt while some one does the
inspection.

[dreamer2355]

+1 with the above post.

Id also be concerned as to why the bolts don’t feel snug. I would inspect the starter bolts to make sure they are not stretched.

[JoshMc]

Ford starters get their ground connection through the bolts that mount it to the engine and the face of the starter itself. When there is too much corrosion between the mating surfaces it reduces the connection and increases resistance in the circuit. This makes the starter turn slower and makes the bendix kick out slower as well. This can cause your grinding sound because if the bendix can’t kick the starter gear the whole way out the teeth will spin against the flywheel and make a lot of noise. You may also want to check the wires running from the battery to the starter for damage because the same symptoms can be from not enough power making it to the starter in the first place.
I would also check the battery and make sure that it has enough power too. Hope this helps.

[EricTheCarGuy]

I’ve actually done a video on this issue but as has been posted Ford does not typically use shims on their starters.

I’ll also say that not all starters are created equal, especially remans. That said it my be a poor casting or something that’s causing the issue.

[Author]

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