The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Starter went south last night....

and left me stranded to push that big heavy 3/4 ton truck up the street, on a slight incline. I chalked the wheel to rest for a minute, then i pulled the chalk ran like hell to the wheel and let it coast until I was able to bump start it.

Still, even when these old trucks break, they still run with a little help. I'd never be able to do that with the wife's toyota, it's automatic.

So, I figured I'd post the question for ya'll...

How much you think it'll cost to get the starter re-built? NAPA is selling a new one for 85 smackeroos with a $15 core fee.

The starter just does the "click....click" noise, but nothing else. I tried tapping it with a small hammer, but no success. Time for a new one I guess.

Will - might be time for a new one, and an auto electric place would prolly charge as much to re-do yours as the exchange one at NAPA, but are you positive it's not something else? have you checked the battery and all the connections? maybe the generator went while you were driving and the battery ran down? maybe it's just the solenoid, not the starter itself? how about the ground connections? other possiblities you need to eliminate before spending money on a starter!

Bill

Sounds like the solenoid to me. I'd try pulling & cleaning that before I pay for a whole starter I may not need. I don't know how the solenoid is put together on your 61 but my old HD was easy to take apart & clean. Every time you hit the starter there's arcing inside the solenoid that over time burns the contacts. If you can file/wire brush the burn spots off it should work like new....and save you a chunk of change.

That's the reason I like my old foot starter...

No solenoid.

But yeah. Check the battery, and the solenoid. That's what it sounds like it could be to me.

And if the solenoid is shot beyond repair, you can usually get a new one and swap it out for much less than $85.

Thanks for the speedy replies..

Red, Brendan: I bought a new battery for it right before Christmas and checked it last night. It's still good.

Tiny: I'll check the solenoid after I get outta work. It's a nice day out, just below 50 degrees, so I can work in the driveway without fear of my a$$ freezing to the concrete. The starter and solenoid are pretty easy to get to, I could probably get to it from the top as well, dunno, I'll figure it out when I get there.

You guys rock. Can't wait to meet some of you guys in person. Afterall the good advice and schooling up I've recieved, I'd go broke trying to buy the rounds of beer in return!! Thanks again.
- Will

Take the rear cover off the starter while you have it off. Most of the time they just need cleaning up & new brushes.They are easy to work on. When you have the selenoid apart like Tiny says the main post to bat will have a section wore out of it. Loosen the nut & torn it around & use the other side.

Well, got my starter back from the shop yesterday, installed and good to go. The guy I took it to, rebuilt the whole thing for 40 bucks, half of the price of a "new" one from Napa. Thanks for all the advice from everyone. This place is awesome.

-Will