Starter drive problem

[rw_removed]

Back at the beginning of the summer, I started having a problem with my starter drive. When I try to start the car ('64, 390), the starter drive gear will not engage the flywheel. It sounds like it is hitting up against it. Makes an awful noise. Usually, though, after a couple of tries it would engage and start. Over the course of the summer it gradually got worse until it wouldn't start at all one night in September. Had to call a tow truck to get it home.

I replaced the starter drive (removed it from the starter motor shaft) with a new one. For about 1 week it was fine then the one new started doing the same thing. It too has gotten progressively worse. Now, I carry a breaker bar and socket and when it doesn't start I manually turn the crankshaft and it will engage.

At this point I am willing to chalk it up to coincidence that I got 2 bad drives. I am waiting on a new starter drive from Bob's Bird House.

However, if this 3rd one also fails I need to look at other possibilities. I have examined the flywheel and found no broken teeth. Beyond that I don't know what else to look for.

I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you.

[fords15426378]

That's strange, it really sounds like some damaged or partially damaged teeth on the flywheel. When you had the starter out I'm sure that you turned the engine over with the breaker bar and checked all the teeth.

I have seen a car go months without it acting up, then being shut off in that awful spot on the flywheel and do it back to back. Post your results with the new drive, hopefully just bad luck with parts.

[Harley Eaton]

Sounds like you need to replace the flex plate on the engine.

[rw_removed]

Sorry I'm so long getting back on this. I finally got a new starter drive (the 2nd replacement) and installed it on the starter motor. Still got the same problem.

Harley, you said, "Sounds like you need to replace the flex plate on the engine." I have inspected the entire ring of teeth all the way around the flex plate. I wasn't able to see any damage. Before I go through the trouble of pulling the motor to replace the flex plate I'd like to know that is the problem. As long as the teeth are all there, how could it be the flex plate?

Thanks.

[boaterbob]

Are all your cables and battery good so your getting enough power to the starter? Did you have the starter it self checked ? Clean connections all over? May be eaisier to pull trans to change flex plate.

[Harley Eaton]

rweaver56: It's hard to tell without seeing the flex-plate. The teeth could be all there, but damaged, as in worn excessively.

[Ford blue blood]

Read on the Galaxie site about a failed starter on an FE...seams as though the shaft was turning inside the armature. Never seen or heard of this in all my years messing with Ford starters, but a new/rebuilt starter fixed his problem.

[rw_removed]

@Ford blue blood - do you have a link to the Galaxie site/post? I would like to read more to see how similar the symptoms are to mine. Thx.

[Ford blue blood]

Login Click on the "log on" and it will take you there....complete with pics.

[rw_removed]

I figure I ought to report back my final solution to this problem. Most of the t'bird parts houses only show a Bell Housing to Starter Seal for the '58-'62 model years (Mac's, TBird HQ, etc). But Pat Wilson's Thunderbird shows the same seal for '58-'64. I called them and asked why they listed the part differently. Their explanation is that it is the same engine, starter and bell housing (at least after '62). Why wouldn't it be needed?

So, I got the seal and installed it. The seal is basically a metal plate encased in rubber. It shims the starter out about 1/8" when tightened down. It is a bear to install.

But it worked!