The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop starter problem

1953 1/2 ton with a 261 using a rebuilt foot starter on a 12 volt sys. Normally starts fine but today i stopped at the store and when i came out and tried to start it the foot pedal felt funny like it was not up as high as normal. Luckily i had some tools and started checking things out. I finally took the starter off and I could tell was in a bind and when i put it back on it started right up like normal. It's done this before but it's rare. Any ideas what the problem might be

A worn out drive gear, drive gear bushing, and/or starter return spring can cause 'binds.'

You'll just have to disconnect the battery & fiddle with it some so you can observe it happening. Make sure the starter is fully seated & torqued to the bellhousing.

"Not up as high as normal" means it didn't fully retract/return.

Brad

What about shims. do these old starter ever need them

Sometimes. I only have experience having to use a shim on a starter at initial installation; not after it had been on an engine for a while.

Shims would come after doing some other investigations- if they were even needed. You said when you removed the starter & put it back on it started right up like normal. You said it (bind) rarely happens. Were the starter bolts tight/torqued when you removed them?

Brad