Starter Locking Up

Joe/Ct

Joe/Ct

Senior Member
Hi, every once in a while, when I go to start our '39, the starter locks up and all I get is the clicking of the starter relay. My solution is to put the transmission in 3rd and rock the car until I hear it "pop". What is the cause and can it be repaired? Can I just continue to operate it this way, or will it get progressively worse?

Thanks and stay safe...
 
I'd start with the simple things; are the starter mounting bolts tight and is the bracket that goes between the brush end of the starter and the oil pan mounting flange there? Any problems here and you will have alinement problems. If this ain't it, the starter will probably have to come out for a full inspection; bushings, bendix, flywheel gear teeth, etc.
 
I had the same problem so I just took the starter out and it turn out it was the starter drive. Put in another one in and been ok since (4 months)
 
You are experiencing the starting Bendix bind up and stick in the ring gear. This can be caused by a worn out Bendix, a worn out ring gear, a combination of the two, or for those with 49-53 engines, using the wrong starter plate that doesn't match the bell housing.
 
As RKS points out, the next time you have the starter out check the teeth on the ring gear. I had the same symptoms as you do and it was the ring gear.
 
Mine had the same symptoms. The order of starter descension. 1, failed head gasket allowed water into the cylinders. As a result, too much cylinder compression to allow the starter to have the torque to crank (rotate) the engine. Symptom was a clicking sound with a button push. Rocking car in 3rd gear freed up the stuck bendix/ring gear but resulted in damaged ring gear and, most likely, a bent starter drive.
Current course of correction: remove engine, inspect ring gear and replace or repair teeth. Mill heads flat and polish deck smooth. Replace head gaskets, replace starter and or just drive.
 
This sort of symptom can happen if your battery is weak and only able to rotate the starter enough to engage the ring gear but not enough power to rotate or crank the engine. Have your battery LOAD TESTED. Regards, Kevin.
 
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