Mini Starter for 8BA-any better than others?

markdtn

markdtn

Senior Member
I have a '44 2N tractor with '50 F1 8BA (see my avatar). Over the winter I will be swapping it into a '50 8N tractor with a Sherman transmission. I will put the 8N engine in the 2N and sell it. My question is on starters. To do a V8 conversion on a tractor, they have you cut away part of the bellhousing for the starter drive. On the 2N I have a good 12V starter with the guts from the '50 F1 starter in a '63 390 T-bird case. It works fine, but I am considering buying a mini-starter so I don't have to cut the tractor bellhousing on this one. Are any brands better than others? I see Powermaster seems to be the most prevalent. Anything I should know before I spend $250 on a new starter? Anybody have a used one?
 

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No experience with a Power Master mini starter but I had a 12 volt Power Master that looked like an original in my 8ba. Complete junk. Failed during warranty and the shop I bought it from fixed it so I didn't have to wait for it to be sent back to Power Master. When it failed again it was out of warranty and when they opened it up to repair the insides were completely trashed and unrepairable. Based on my experience, "Run, Forest, Run"
 
19Fordy said:
I know I have read reviews of customer dissatisfaction with the quality of Powermaster 8BA mini style starters, so do some research.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...wer+master+8ba+ford+starter+reviews&FORM=VDRE

Also, peruse this:
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/search.php?searchid=41280960
Click to expand...

The only reviews I can find on point are on Jegs. There are 5 reviews, all positive.

The second link doesn't work.

If you do an image search for "Ford Flathead Mini Starter" there are basically 5 that show up
1-Powermaster
2-Speedway Stumpuller unbranded
3-Titan
4-IMI
5-Snap Rebuilders
there is also an Australian one that I can't get the page to open.

The Snap Rebuilders one is the least expensive at $200, but the website seems to have some sketchy writing. Without someone to vouch for them, I probably wouldn't order from them. The Titan one is $400. Maybe it's just that good. The others are all around $250. Most seem to be based on a Denso style gear reduction starter. I don't need super high torque. My engine is bone stock. I do like the idea of being able to rotate it, you can see from the picture where it has to go. Any additional first hand experience with these is appreciated. Thanks!
 
I have the Powermaster on two of my engines. After the original 6V starter (running on 12V so a bit more fierce!) pushed the ring gear off the flywheel, I managed to get it back into place and secured it by a couple screws without opening up the housing and saved the rest of last years driving time. I changed then to the Powermaster as it engages from the other side of the ringgear, thus always pushing it against the step in the flywheel. Seems powerful enough to me, does its job now for more than a year without any hick-ups. This is the reason I bought another one for this years new engine, the blown flathead.
 
The offset type gear reduction Powermaster starters are very good. It's the original inline looking units that have been troublesome.
 
Thank you!


Ordered a Powermaster 9507 from Jegs. They are running a promo where I got it shipped and taxes for $251. Here and on the HAMB that one seems to be a popular choice. Thanks for the help.
 
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I've had a Speedway Stump-Pulr on my 12-volt '36 engine since February 2011. It's small, light-weight and cranks the engine faster than the original one.
 
I have Snap starters on both my 8BA in my 35 Cabriolet and on two Model A's. I have also installed a few others for friends. Good quality, performance, price.
 
I too have been using Speedway's Stump Pulr mini starter for at least a dozen years with no problems. I would reocmmend it.
 
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