Starter Locked

[Alan O'Connell]

So the starter locked on my 36. I removed the starter and it wasn't easy! Everything looks alright. Is there any way to prevent this in the future?

[SofaKing]

Can you clarify what you mean by locked exactly? The motor, the bendix, it wouldn't turn the engine, etc.

[drolston]

Sometimes the locked starter can be unstuck without removing it. Put the car in high gear and rock the car backward and forward. The best prevention measure is to be sure you have that little support bracket at the front of the starter. It goes from under the head of one of the starter mounting bolts to the adjacent oil pan bolt. Keeps the starter from flexing the oil pan where the starter mounts.

While you have the starter out thoroughly clean the Bendix mechanism, but do not lubricate it at all.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

You want to try getting the starter out of a v8 on a right hand drive car where you have steering box interferance.

I have had this lock up. Putting it gear as mentioned and rocking it back and forward does the trick. I usually do it by grabbing the back bumper. I got a full rebuild done on my starter in the end.

GB

[JM 35 Sedan]

The starter on my avatar 35 fordor locks up occasionally. I leave trans in gear and rock the car back and forth. I can usually hear the starter when it kicks out. After that, it works perfectly, until it hangs up again. I do have the little support bracket in place. I've had the starter off several times and can't find any problems with that. Might be something to do with the flywheel gear causing this lockup condition.

[Alan O'Connell]

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The starter locked as soon as I stepped on it. I couldn't turn the engine with a crank. I did put the transmission in gear and rock it but that didn't work. I got the starter out in three pieces. The part that secures to the oil pan was the most difficult to remove. The starter can be put back together. The top bolt was hard to remove. I was afraid it might snap. The threads all looked good. I'm thinking the starter twisted ever so slightly causing the bolt to bind. I don't have a support bracket. Can anyone post a picture?

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

I usually put a new drive in when it locks up and throw the defective one away.......

[r_reed]

whi. ch brings up the question, where do you get a new reliable starter drive these days. a new parts dealer gave me in new one (chinese) in exchange for a used part. the new one never worked. the bendix would not spin out despite taking it out and trying various things with it. i ended up going back to the one that was in my truck when i bought it in 1977. i've gone through 4 bendix springs, wondering it someday i'll need a "new one". have heard about issues with the new enclosed types in getting them in and out of the housing. thanks for your thoughts.

[Alan O'Connell]

That's the problem with the new ones, they are made in China. As is the one that just locked up my starter.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

If you want a new drive go to Mac van Pelt. Sells good quality ones...that's what I did.

GB

[alanwoodieman]

had a 59ab engine with a bend pan mount for the starter, locked up several times even with the support clip. finally changed pans and has not done it since

[AnthonyG]

Post 3 drolston nailed it. While the others are correct indicating rocking let's the engagement gear pop back into place releasing the gear, the problem is the starter slightly misaligns from the torque it initiates on starting also the jostling of bumps without that bracket secured and aligning the starter will cause intermittent engagement sticking. The bracket secures the starter from movement preventing mis-aligning the starter body when torque kick 7 bumps jolts it.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Alan O'Connell

I don't have a support bracket. Can anyone post a picture?

Starter support bracket.