Can't remove Starter

[SuddenSurge]

Hi everyone, I can't remove the starter off a 65 T-Bird. I have removed all three bolts. I can wiggle it around and there is enough space for a screwdriver where I have attempted to pry it out but I just can't get it to budge. Any ideas out there? Thanks for your time.

[boaterbob]

Is the bracket on the trans dip stick tube holding it?

[SuddenSurge]

No. The transmission bracket is not even close to the starter. A little bit of history on this T-Bird. The previous owner had been driving it on or about 2002. He started having electrical problems with it and then started messing with it. Instead he made things a lot worse by reversing alternator and solenoid wires. A friend of mind said that he may have given the starter such a jolt that the starter drive may have gotten stuck on the other side of the fly wheel. Is that possible? Any ideas?

[boaterbob]

Never heard of that?? Maybe wrong starter? After you get it out better check ring gear on flex plate real good.

[Darrellinceres]

Are you still stuck?

Hook the positive back up and lightly try bumping it, not enough to turn the engine over, and see if it will jar itself loose. It's got to come out pretty straight. If it’s cocked away from the block the nose could hang on the flywheel. Were the bolts tight holding it in when you removed them?

[SuddenSurge]

I'm still stuck Darrell. I finally got around to it went out and tryed bumping the starter like you said. I bumped it once then tryed to pull it out, still stuck. Tryed bumping it again again with no luck. I don't know what else to do.

[Darrellinceres]

Wow??

I've got my motor (428) on the engine stand. I'm putting it back together hopefully to get it back in this weekend. I'll take a close look at mine and see if I can see anything else that may cause it to hang up in there. It’s not exactly like yours but similar. I've heard of new starters that don't fit quite right and the flywheel cuts into the starter. Make a strange noise at first but once it cuts a groove it quiets down. I’m starting to think this is more likely what happened. The starter is the highest current drawer and since the solenoid is not on the starter like a chubby I don’t think you could hurt it unless it stayed engaged while the engine was running.

How much force have you used with the pry bar? If you have someone who can help you might try having him turn the engine over (big ratchet on the crank bolt) while you try prying from underneath. If it did cut into the starter you might be able to work it out that way.

[Harley Eaton]

If you have the correct starter for 1965, 1966, it should pull straight out. 1964 was the last year for the starter with the gear on the rear side of the flywheel. I would look at the teeth on the flywheel - remove the lower flywheel cover - to see if you can get a clue regarding the flywheel hanging up on the starter gear.

[t-bird-art]

Originally Posted by SuddenSurge

I don't know what else to do.

Just offering sympathy. Don't have clue on this. Have seen a lot of "previous owners screw-ups" but this takes the cake.

[Harley Eaton]

I just had a thought! (surprise!) Maybe previous owner installed a pre 1965 starter with the long starter drive and the torque converter housing will not accomodate it. That might jam the end of the starter drive between the flywheel and the housing. My guess would be that you would need to seperate the converter housing from the block to fix the problem. Don't know if you can do that! Oh, yeah - you can leave the torque converter attached to the flywheel - no, maybe not. I'll keep thinking about this... Art??

[t-bird-art]

Off to transmission shop to drop transmission w/ bell housing to get in there to see problem , inspect for flywheel damage, and clean out any broken parts.

1st you could try:
Remove starter end plate to pull off starter case to get more wiggle room on armature and drive gear.
Hope like hell see no evidence of broken starter parts. Pull inspection plate to inspect flywheel teeth.
GOOD LUCK
Art

[Darrellinceres]

Harley when you mentioned that 64 and earlier had a different starter I was wondering the same thing. Can you tell the difference from the outside of the starter? I can't remember ever seeing a starter that draws the gear into the flywheel instead of pushing it.

[SuddenSurge]

I want to thank everybody for your input. Art, I tryed your idea and it worked. However, being the rookie of all rookies I did make problems for myself, but it also gave me an opportunity to laugh at myself. I went ahead and removed the starter end off the replacement starter first just to see what I would be doing. Good luck for me putting it back together. I then losened up the bolts and it immediately gave me more wiggle room but it still wouldn't come out. So I went ahead and removed the bolts. Everything eventually came out with the exception of the armature. This is the part where I laugh at myself. First I thought I would get the starter out of the way. There was not enough room to remove the starter and it got stuck in between the engine, tranny and the steering mechanisms. I mean it was stuck because I thought I can turn the steering and work it loose but it only made it tighter. I eventually had to losen the tie rod sleeve completely and the starter fell to the ground. I then back back to the armature that was still stuck. I had a friend turn the engine as I tryed to wiggle it out. Still no luck. I knew that If I tryed prying it out hard I might break a piece of the armature inside but I felt I had to take a chance. I did and it came out without breaking anything. Since I had already taken my replacement starter apart I tryed fitting the armature and it doesn't fit in right either. I will go back out and try it again just in case.

[t-bird-art]

If the two starters look the same I would conclude you have the right starter and something is cocked / broken inside the bell housing requiring dropping transmission to get eye balls in there.
I suspect flywheel bolts are loose

Art

[boaterbob]

I would check the numbers on the engine to be sure its not an earlier engine. Maybe starter matches the year of the car but not the motor and flex plate