Stuck starter..I give up

[foxfire42]

I've had my starter stuck only a couple times in 40 years and have been able to get it unstuck with minimal difficulty. I finally have given up on it this time. My old lady legs just don't have the strength to rock the car back and forth. I've searched the barn and watched a video and didn't find a remedy I haven't tried. I even tried using my truck as my legs and gently pulled it backwards in 3rd gear. I had a friend come over and help thinking 4 legs might get it rocking enough to do the job. It didn't.



Any ideas?

[Brentwood Bob]

Unbolt it.

[Benson]

Suggestion:

After you get it loose, spin the starter motor SLOWLY and check to be sure that the shaft on starter motor is not bent.

[ndnchf]

It happened to me a couple days ago. I unbolted it, then had to hit it a couple times with a dead blow hammer to dislodge it. No damage, just annoying.

[VT Cruzan]

This used to happen on my Ford 9N tractor occasionally. I kept the correct sized wrench in the tractor's tool box to loosen it. Didn't have to remove it, just jiggle it. The bendix would snap back.

[Bob Bidonde]

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A bent starter motor shaft is a probable cause of your problem. Also check the condition of the ring gear teeth. I recommend that you use a modern USA made starter drive in lieu of the stock Bendix unit.

[MAG]

X2 on post 3.

[foxfire42]

Thanks for the tips. I'll give them a try this afternoon. I don't have a dead blow hammer but lusted after on at Harbor Freight. I just hope my flywheel teeth stay put during this process. I did unbolt it but it's so tight there's no movement. It as if it's welded to the flywheel housing. My fingers are crossed that I can rock it enough. I just happen to have a USA made starter drive IF I can find it. Stay tuned

[ronn]

good luck to you!

[Mike Peters]

." I did unbolt it but it's so tight there's no movement. It as if it's welded to the flywheel housing." OP.

Same thing happened to me on a trip. No hammer, so loosened bolts and stomped it with my foot real hard. With hood up, you can do that. Did the trick. Put a different starter in it when we got back home. No more stuck starter. Good luck!

[Synchro909]

The fact that you still couldn't move the starter after loosening the bolts suggests to me that the pinion is jammed in the ring gear, likely because the shaft is bent.
Try leaving the bolts loose but in place (so the starter doesn't fall on the ground) and give the car a shove forward and back. I think that should free it, then take it out and check the shaft for straightness.

[foxfire42]

The rocking back and forth in 3rd with the bolts out did not work. We both rocked it so much I could hear snoring coming from the engine ......

Finally tried to do the deed with the piece of wood and hammer. It took a lot of thumping but SUCCESS!! it finally popped loose. That sure was an exercise in frustration. I was so tired plus getting late so checking whether the shaft is bent or if all is still well enough to replace it as is will happen tomorrow.


Thanks to all of you. You're the best.

[Benson]

You may already know this but is this car an early 28 with the 1/2 inch Abel drive starter motor shaft which bends easily compared to the newer 5/8ths shaft?

I do not know about the 1/2 inch shafts but sometimes a dead blow hammer can be used to straighten the shaft if there is one bent place ... if more than one place is bent then it is harder to straighten.

Your local old time starter / Generator shop may be able to straighten it.

[redmodelt]

Ya stuck starters are fun esp something like a 1948 F2 3/4 ton, with the wrong slope and working alone! LOL

[Wick]

Unbolt the starter,place a strap wrench on it. Turn starter clockwise if I remember correctly. Starter will pop loose.

[ronn]

loosen bolts on starter-put in 3rd- put strap to new vehicle and a light tug.........


saves your back.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by ronn

loosen bolts on starter-put in 3rd- put strap to new vehicle and a light tug.........


saves your back.

That's exactly what I suggested in post 11 but it seems the OP didn't get anywhere with it. I'm pleased to read that he has it now. Let's hope the shaft isn't bent or he can straighten it. I do any I have to straighten in the lathe so I can easily check my work.

[Dan Partain]

I had a starter that would occasionally stick, it turned out to be a bad spring.

[J Franklin]

Originally Posted by Dan Partain

I had a starter that would occasionally stick, it turned out to be a bad spring.

I can't see any thing out of place on the spring you show. What was its flaw?

[ndnchf]

Jack Bahm has a short video about stuck starters and how to usually avoid the problem.

https://youtu.be/PD4AYmMu1HU