Pesky intermittent issue

« **on:** May 11, 2011, 12:31:10 PM »

Ford 460 starter. Bought a new one since the last would click/engage but not spin the flywheel. Still same issue, changed out the 4 prong solenoid, I have 12 volts to both wires goin to the starter, all electrical checks out. Figured oh well I'll clean the bildge and stuff. Well afterwards I go to start it and it starts right up !, then I go out every other day for 4 tries it starts on a dime. Then yesterday, same story, click , engage , but no spin

.

Ideas ? UFO's and Jesus have been rulled out....

« **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2011, 12:51:57 PM »

I myself had this exact issue, What i would do is pick up one of them starter buttons you can run at the transom at the boat, this way you can just jump the key switch and see if the starter works, if is works fine you will find most likely the same problem i had, the ignition switch!

« **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2011, 12:57:31 PM »

Quote from: Nordie on May 11, 2011, 12:51:57 PM

I myself had this exact issue, What i would do is pick up one of them starter buttons you can run at the transom at the boat, this way you can just jump the key switch and see if the starter works, if is works fine you will find most likely the same problem i had, the ignition switch!

X2! Had it happen once as well almost exactly. But since you were horsing around in the bilge, could it be a bad positive or negative cable? it's terminal crimp or end? it's connection?

Ray

« **Reply #3 on:** May 12, 2011, 08:36:05 AM »

well i get 12v to everything so... but I'll recheck, who knows ?

« **Reply #4 on:** May 12, 2011, 05:47:37 PM »

I had a worst issue lol, my Boat would start on its own due to a bad solenoid ......Sitting at the sandbar and I was standing 50 ft away and the thing fired up and try to idle away lol .... Thank god for my sandstake

« **Reply #5 on:** May 12, 2011, 09:56:57 PM »

Quote from: Danger731 on May 12, 2011, 08:36:05 AM

well i get 12v to everything so... but I'll recheck, who knows ?

ignition switch

« **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2011, 01:29:34 AM »

Do you have the gound cable on the block. To check the switch take a test light and with the key or switch on and check for power going to the solonoid. No power bad switch also you can take and put a screw drive to cabke and ingniton on solonoid if your stranded, not a fix for problem.

« **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2011, 04:42:57 AM »

I replaced my solenoid to fix an intermittent starting issue on my ford.....been fine ever since.

« **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2011, 07:25:26 AM »

Quote from: SS-201 on May 13, 2011, 01:29:34 AM

Do you have the gound cable on the block.

x2, I have seen many boats get to the ramp and not start just how you describe due to a bad ground connection or not ground connection on the block.

« **Reply #9 on:** May 13, 2011, 10:34:57 AM »

Quote from: 79charger on May 12, 2011, 05:47:37 PM

Sitting at the sandbar and I was standing 50 ft away and the thing fired up and try to idle away lol .... Thank god for my sandstake

LMFAO!!! Wish I could have been there for that!!

« **Reply #10 on:** May 13, 2011, 07:14:26 PM »

Brings back fond Mazda memories.

« **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2011, 08:33:46 PM »

This is to funny to read.....I just had the same thing happen to my chebby's starter. Thought it was the key switch and replaced it....that fixed it on the trailer untill we got to the lake and it started again and had to use a screwdriver to start it...then replaced the silinoid....no luck there either started out great and then the same thing again. What it was is a bad wire going from the key switch to the silinoid. So i ran another heavier wire to the starter from the switch and it has worked great ever since. This was just last week to be exact. Check all the connections and the wire from the key switch and get a long piece of wire that is heavier than you have on there now and run it to the starter and see if it acts up. Worked great for me.

Little side note, all the wiring in boat was new and sleeved. So dont understand how it went bad, but it did.

Jim

« **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:04:49 PM »

ok not to be a brat but most of the replies are for no power to the solenoid.

On my boat there is power. Electricity is NOT the issue.

The starter gear comes out and slams into the flywheel but will nor turn it. The motor spins freely with a wrench.

Now the only thing I can think of is if this starter (ford 76) has variations. By this I mean that there are many '76 starters for the same block. So the question is ...

Is it possible there are a few starters that will bolt up yet be the wrong starter ?

It is as if the gear throw on this new starter is too long... It hits the flywheel but won't turn the flywheel.

« **Reply #13 on:** May 26, 2011, 07:56:17 PM »

Quote from: Danger731 on May 26, 2011, 07:04:49 PM

ok not to be a brat but most of the replies are for no power to the solenoid.

On my boat there is power. Electricity is NOT the issue.

The starter gear comes out and slams into the flywheel but will nor turn it. The motor spins freely with a wrench.

Now the only thing I can think of is if this starter (ford 76) has variations. By this I mean that there are many '76 starters for the same block. So the question is ...

Is it possible there are a few starters that will bolt up yet be the wrong starter ?

It is as if the gear throw on this new starter is too long... It hits the flywheel but won't turn the flywheel.

Hey Brat....

I am just throwing this at you just because....Is there a chance you had at one time a bell housing starter? The ring could be on the wrong side of the flywheel....

The standard Ford starter uses a strange method of throwing the Bendix out....You can pull the starter apart and make sure everything moves easily (not too tough)..

There are I believe two different Ford nose pieces, I could not tell you exactly what the differences are (not a Ford guy) but I don't think it would start at all, ever with the wrong one....

Still could be a block ground BTW....

GT

« **Reply #14 on:** May 26, 2011, 08:04:56 PM »

Well I'll check out NAPA tomorrow it seems the auto trans starter has a 3/4" reach to the flexplate. The manual starter has only a 3/8" reach to the flywheel.

So if you have an automatic starter it will be bashing into the flywheel. That is where I'll look next

« **Reply #15 on:** May 28, 2011, 07:49:48 AM »

Do you have the starter that has a solenoid on it? Some 460's did. Or is it the standard looking Ford starter?

« **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2011, 09:53:47 PM »

it has a solenoid

« **Reply #17 on:** June 05, 2011, 06:56:09 PM »

well it seems to be a defective starter. the bendix throws fwd but does not spin. damn. all this lost time on the water over a defective brand new starter. Screwed again by NAPA.

« **Reply #18 on:** June 06, 2011, 05:45:36 AM »

That's a common problem with rebuilt starters from the cheap guys. The armature has a "dead spot" but they don't catch it.

That sounds like the issue yours had. It turns your starter into a roulette wheel. When it stops there it won't start. It may only land there once a month but....

I'm an industrial electrician so I know how you feel with intermitant issues! They are our worst nightmare

« **Reply #19 on:** June 06, 2011, 10:46:58 AM »

roulette wheel, that sums it up, thanks for the explaination .. !

« **Reply #20 on:** July 04, 2011, 07:36:40 AM »

well I brought the starter in and had it bench tested and it was fine. I hooked it back up to the boat wires same thing, so I jumped from the transom solenoid to the starter to check the 4 guage wire and that was the problem. It had 12 v but I guess it has something wrong where it couln't handle the amps needed to spin the starter. It's all good now.

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