starter?

Schitt.... I'v ebeen in a LOT of BB FE starters but NEVER had one hang up like that on me personally...

When they go bad on me and the bendix stayed out, and my battery and soleonoid and connections were good and it wouldn't turn over my engine I replaced or rebuilt it...

I DID forget that the drive gear is not on a spring or magnet... I just never had one stay out like that I recon... Plus it's been about 10 years since I changed one...

Originally Posted by chornak

Wow. I didn't mean to start a fire storm. I just want to start the Galaxie. HA HA. Anyway, it is a big block, 352 to be exact. I'll get out there tomorrow and check all the connections. Tonight while at work, which is the only time I can think, I remembered the last time I drove the car I stopped at a light and saw some smoke from the passenger side fender. At first I thought maybe some oil got on the manifold because I just put new valve covers on. But maybe my starter cable got too close to the exhaust.

ROFL no storm here!!! At least I didn't think so.

With July 4th coming up and you bringing up smoke it reminded me of a time when i almost bought these things to go on the car engine somehow to make the smoke roll. Smoke bombs of some kind. I almost got them to put on a friends car and then thought better of it. But boy it was tempting!!!

Originally Posted by UTRY

Shotrod, I am just answering the question in the first post, not knowing if he has a big or small block, there are two different answers.
1. If the starter drive stays engaged on a small block after an attempt is made to start it, then it is not normal
2. If the starter drive stays engaged on a big block after an attempt has been made to start it, then it is normal and I was trying to explain the difference and the only thing hitting it with a hammer will do is make noise. I don't want to see him replace the starter when it is performing as designed.
Either small block or big block I don't believe the problem is the starter, just getting voltage to it.

I wasn't meaning for it to sound like I was jumping down anybody's throat or anything. Was just wondering why, in most forums, the major or semi major things are mentioned first. I do understand your post and now he has all the info in case it isn't just a wire and what his next move should be.

If it is just a connection, I sure hope his memory is better than mine and if it happens down the road and it's the starter instead! I'd remember that someone said do this or that but most likely wouldn't remember just what that was.

I was chilled then and chilled now.

Well except I HATE side mouse buttons! Twice i've hit that button and went back and lost everything i typed, including the first reply to this!

Originally Posted by FEandGoingBroke

Schitt.... I'v ebeen in a LOT of BB FE starters but NEVER had one hang up like that on me personally...

When they go bad on me and the bendix stayed out, and my battery and soleonoid and connections were good and it wouldn't turn over my engine I replaced or rebuilt it...

I DID forget that the drive gear is not on a spring or magnet... I just never had one stay out like that I recon... Plus it's been about 10 years since I changed one...

Those funky long necked things are another beast. I've had them hang up but was able to bang enough to get it to wiggle out of the way so i could try it again. The newer style I've had the bushing come out the end and cause all kinds of noise. They all seem to have thier little quirks.

Well guys rain stopped long enough to mess with the car. All it was was a dirty positive battery post. Cleaned it up and she spun right over. So thank you for all your input.

Glad it's OK

As for the going for the major fixe's in the first responces, I personally make the mistake of assuming that the person with the issue would have already checked the easy things like dirty Positive or Negative connections... And just post the easiest cure or fix from there becaue I assumed the poster had checked the obvious....


FE

Bonus points for Deb!!