Hi, Chris. I would suspect a sticky or corroded starter solenoid. If the starter is the typical GM type, it will have a smaller cylinder mounted on, and parallel with, the larger barrel of the starter body. That smaller cylinder is the solenoid and drive engagement. What happens is, when you turn the key to "Start", a low-amperage current travels through windings in the body of the solenoid. This causes the iron core of the solenoid to be pulled to one end. The core is connected to a kind of a lever with two fingers that extends out the back of the solenoid and down into the nose piece of the starter drive. The fingers on the lever shove the starter drive (pinion) into engagement with the teeth on the ring gear, and simultaneously completes the high- amperage circuit that energizes the starter motor to turn the drive and turn the engine over. When you release the ignition switch, the solenoid is de-energized and a strong spring pulls the iron core of the solenoid back, disengaging the pinion and breaking the high-amp starter circuit. If the "finger" sticks, it will keep the starter engaged and the starter circuit closed. Likewise, if the iron core of the solenoid is sticky, and doesn't return, it will keep everything engaged.
The other type of starter system has a separate solenoid. If you don't see the smaller barrel of a solenoid mounted on your starter, trace the heavy lead to the starter motor back until you get to a device that has two heavy leads (one running to the starter motor and one running to the + terminal on the battery). This device will have one (maybe two) smaller leads and may be cylindrical in shape. If you know Fords of the 1960's and 1970's, you'll remember this device as being mounted on the fender well near the battery. On these types of starters, when you turn the switch, you energize the solenoid, which moves the iron core, which closes the high-amp circuit and makes the starter motor begin to turn. This type of starter has a drive pinion that moves along a spiral groove when it turns, which drives the turning pinion gear into mesh with the ring gear and turns the motor. When the engine starts, a spring in the end of the pinion pops the gear out of mesh and allows the starter to overrun. The characteristic of this kind of starter is a propensity, when the motor kicks but doesn't start, to disengage the starter drive and have the starter overrun. You hear a sound like, wah-wah-wah-cough- vrrrooooommmm, where the engine coughs but doesn't catch and the starter drive disengages and the starter motor overspeeds. Then you have to release the key, let the starter spin down to a stop and try again. The solenoids on this type of motor can stick as well. The pinion (others have referred to as the "Bendix") can stick, but if it does what happens, if the solenoid isn't sticking, is that the engine will drive the starter motor since the drive is still in mesh (bad). The first type of starter is called a pre-engaged starter, since the pinion doesn't start turning until it's engaged with the ring gear teeth. The second type has a propensity to chew up ring gear and starter drive teeth since the drive motor is spinning when it smacks into the stationary ring gear teeth. If you have the first type, a solenoid replacement should cure your problems. If the second, try replacing the solenoid first, then have the starter rebuilt. This should include overhauling the pinion (Bendix). BE SURE you use marine starter solenoids. I had a 28 Carver with twin 302 Fords with the non-pre-engaged type starter, and the former owner used cheap Pep Boys over-the-counter Ford solenoids. If you engaged them with the engine hatches open at night you could see the arcing through the casings - very bad news. Fisheries Supply's engine parts department (lower level) has correct marine solenoids even for freaky old motors. If you need your starter rebuilt, Romaine Electric is very good, and very reasonable. I think they're in Kent; they used to be down by the stadiums on Airport way. Good luck. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "UnifliteWorld" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/unifliteworld?hl=en.
