Wrrrrr...Klunk. Now the starter is stuck

dynaflash_8

dynaflash_8

Member
Went to start my A and it went Wrrrrr...clunk. thought maybe i snapped a bendix spring (12volts to a 6 volt starter) but when i put the crank in the motor, the motor wouldnt turn over. :confused: So i unbolted the starter, and it just stayed put. Nothing would make it budge. Even a B.F.H and a drift. Now what?:confused:
 
Put the bolts back in the starter, put the shift lever in third gear, and push the car forward. When you get it unstuck you might need to remove the starter and inspect the drive and ring gear for damaged teeth, bent shaft or spring, etc.
 
Refasten the starter, then third gear and a couple of good pushes - yep - agree...

What they didn't warn you about, is if it works, there will be a very audible "POP" - I was glad I was warned about it...

Starter didn't disengage from the engine... I've had it happen twice because I was too impatient between start attempts. If if doesn't start - let it wind all the way down to quiet, then wait another 10 seconds before trying again

You need to hear that POP to know it disengaged.
 
Take a look at the ring gear on the flywheel through the starter mounting boss and see if the ring gear has walked forward and jammed aginst the housing. Some of the repo gears do not mount very tight. I had this experience, finally had to pull the fly wheel and have a new gear mounted and pinned into place. You can tap it back into place, but it won't stay there long.

Tom Endy
 
I have seen 12 volts bend the armature shaft. Stuck starter is the result. That fellow had to change the fields in his starter to 12 volt fields to prevent future starter damage. About twice a year my phaeton's starter binds up. When that happens, I stick the crank into the crank hole and stand on it. With my 220 pounds on it, it has come loose very time. Rocking in third gear usually works if you are parked on the flat ground. My starter usually locks up when I am parked on a hill agains a curb. Murphy's law is still working.
 
Seems like I remember my elders putting the transmission in reverse and trying to push the car forward,or in high gear and push backward,they called it "Starter Lock" ,when this happened,of course this was regular 6 volt system.Most of the time it would release.
 
Another possible cause could be a slightly bent starter shaft and/or a distorted bendix spring. Those issues would be easier to fix than the ring gear.
Supergnat.
 
My starter stuck on me once, tried the rocking in gear method but wouldn't budge. Took the starter bolts out and couldn't move at all, so I took a short 2x4 and very large hammer and wailed on the end of the starter, Sproing! and it finally poped loose.This was with a new ring gear and the starter shaft was not bent. I believe the drive tooth tried to climb up one of the ring gear teeth. This was fifteen years ago hasn't happened again. [ Knock On Wood]
 
On one of my cars the starter jams two or three times a year. I put it in high gear and rock the car BACKWARDS and it pops out. I know that logic says high gear and push it FORWARD and several of the experts here on Fordbarn have said FORWARD. They know a lot more than I do about these Model A's. But something is unusual about my car, as it works best to put it in high gear and rock it backwards. Yes, I know I could fix it (or more accurately, get someone to fix it for me) but it's just not that big a deal to break it lose every few months.

WM
 
After putting it in high gear and rocking it back and forth I found will break loose a stuck starter.

My coupe has that problem. I know it has a bad ring gear because if you take the plugs out, push the starter and hold it down for a few revs of the motor and you can hear the starter hit the bad spot in the ring gear.
 
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