Starter goes "CHUNK"

[defdes]

Tried to start the truck tonight (automatic 72 F250 Camper Special 360) and I have had the starter click before, but tonite it mad a much more aggressive sound like the starter gears running into the flywheel but not spinning. It made a large chunking noise as it tried to engage, and I thought I could here the whizz of the pinion gear but no grinding of teeth on teeth. I am stuck parked in a place I dont want to be, that and I really need my truck in the a.m.. Sound like a problem that can be mitigated by jumping?

[papabug71]

Highly unlikely. Sounds like the starter is on its way out or already gone.

First thing I would do is crawl under the truck & beat the hell out of the starter. Don't try to destroy it, just knock it around a couple of times. See if it's hung up. I once crippled a Jeep starter thru a hard winter by giving it "love taps" to get it unstuck.

Also check the teeth on the flywheel for missing/ damaged teeth.

[defdes]

Drat. It's newly replaced 3 months ago. I'll try the subtle persuasion.

[Mancar1]

If you haven't got it running yet you may try rocking the truck. Had a couple broken/worn flywhell teeth once and when it wouldn't start rocking it a little got me started a couple times until I got around to fixing it.

[papabug71]

I forgot the rocking method mancar1 mentioned. Also worth a try.

As for these "new" starters, my buddy is in the same shape with a Orilleys reman starter he put on his Mustang. He gets about 4 months out of them & they're done. The local old timer that rebuilds starters, alternators & generators said these new remans are 100% pure junk.

[basketcase0302]

Look at the ground wire (engine to negative) real good-nice and clean / and check the battery and solenoid.
I didn't think we could roll our automatics in gear and turn the engine over?

[72BahamaBlue]

I had a worn spot or two on the flexplate ring gear. It seems the gear would always stop at the same spot when shutting down the engine, starter wouldn't engage. I ended up carrying a socket wrench to turn the crankshaft via the front bolt, so starter could engage good teeth.
Like Papabug71 mentioned, I've also had poor luck with reman starters...bendix drive and or engagement lever would come apart, bugger up ring gear. Many times I've cleaned out shrapnel from behind the inspection plate on bellhousing. Will now try to find new US made, or NOS.

[defdes]

So the problem initially was that the starter bolts had backed half way out. I got them tightened (also rolled the truck), no change. I put some jumper cables on, I had the hood up at this point, and could see the fan turning slowly as I cranked it. I grabbed my persuader and proceeded to wail mightily on the starter body. Voila, started right up.
I got it home, and now the pinion spins and whirs freely, but doesn't engage. Looks like a new starter is in my future again. I don't know what NAPA's return policy is ( I don't have a receipt), if not, I'll try and track down an NOS. Winter is upon us, and I don't want to have to do this again... at least until Spring.

[Archinto]

I work at Napa, and its "no receipt no return."

Although there have been upgrades to the computer system that brings up previous invoices when a return is made. If you can't find the receipt, a bank statement showing the purchase date and amount would suffice, although, I am from a very small town and our store is privately owned, so I am not sure how corporate Napa operates and if they can bend the rules.... Hopefully that would be enough for them to honor the warranty.

If its a red box premium reman starter, those have a lifetime warranty as long as you own the truck, the blue box ones are 3 years.

Sounds like your bendix is not wanting to engage. Often times a "chunk" is a sign of a bad solenoid too.

[basketcase0302]

If its a red box premium reman starter, those have a lifetime warranty as long as you own the truck, the blue box ones are 3 years.

I really need to remember this information, thanks for sharing!

[defdes]

Small town Vermont, they remembered me and gave it to me no questions asked. The guy even left it in the back of one of their trucks so I could pick it up after hours.
Got it in and no dramas, thanks for all of the feed back.
The top bolt threads in the bell housing are a bit stripped however. I bought a long enough bolt to pass thru and capture with a nut on the back side. I somehow was able to get the nut on, but it's too tight back there to get a wrench on it. Looks like a flange from the tranny dip stick is in the way of reaching it from the top or bottom. I got it as tight as I could from the head of the bolt, I will check it periodically to make sure it's not backing out.

[flyboy2610]

You might want to put some type of thread lock compound on that bolt to keep it from backing out.