Starter not engaging?

[diymirage]

So I have this brand x vehicle with a 351 in and occasionally the starter won't engage
When this happens, it just grinds and make a racket
the only way to get it going when this happens is to grab the crankshaft pulley and turn the engine over slightly

Any chance this can by anything other then a flat spot on the torque converters starter ring?

 

[Yote]

When I was on the farm it was usually the starters bendix drive, from what I think you're describing. At times cleaning it would work but you will probably want to replace it if you find that is what it is.
Yote

 

[diymirage]

No, that is not what I am talking about (but I would be happy to hear that's the problem, because then I simply put a new starter on and I'm done)

The reason I don't think it is the starter itself is because when it happens, the only solution is to rotate the engine by hand slightly

What I suspect is the teeth around the torque converters that the starter is supposed to engage

 

[67Dart273]

I really have never liked Ferd starters. Could be as simple as rust/ mud/ junk in the starter/ drive/ magnetic device. and it could be that a bad connection/ solenoid is not giving it enough power to pull in but enough to spin without doing so.

Start with the "usual." I would inspect and wiggle connections. If you can "catch" it acting up, check voltage at the starter when cranking

Pull the starter, pull it apart, and inspect and clean. Throw a little lube at the bushings.

Only one way I know of to find out if the ring gear is buggered......get under there and look at every tooth

 

[Ddaddy]

It can be a worn gear on the starter itself so that when the ring teeth are just slightly off from the starter teeth it can't get a bite and just bounces around. I've had it happen on previous Ford trucks that I owned. Drop the starter and see if the gear is worn on it. I've also had it happen with a starter that was loose and just tightening up the mounting bolts fixed it.

 

[diymirage]

i guess ill crawl under there tomorrow, pull it all and inspect the starter

hopefully it s something simple

 

[TrailBeast]

i guess ill crawl under there tomorrow, pull it all and inspect the starter

hopefully it s something simple

I think you had it right the first time unfortunately.
Having to turn the engine a little and then it starts is a dead giveaway, and in case you didn't know, there are 4 spots a V8 engine usually stops turning at and those are obvious in the flywheel wear.
So basically the starter uses one of those 4 spots every time the starter engages and the teeth get worn down.
When you turn it a little you are giving it a place where the starter really never slams into the teeth so it starts.

A new starter might help the problem, but it usually isn't the actual problem and it will start doing it again before long if it fixes it at all.

 

[RustyRatRod]

On a Ford, the ring gear is not part of the converter. It has a separate flexplate with the ring gear on it.

Word to the wise. Fords have studs on the converter that go through the flexplate with nuts on the other side. The studs are not equidistant apart. They line up only one way.

In order to make reassembly much easier. Mark one stud with one hole in the old flexplate. Upon reassembly, line the holes up in the old flex plate with the new one and mark that corresponding hole, or it's a PITA to line up.

But yeah, the ring gear on the flex plate is toast. Be best to put a starter on it too.

 

[diymirage]

I was afraid of that, thanks Rusty