1985 Ranger starter freewheel

[The.demon14]

This is hopefully my last post on here.. I have two problems. The first is the starter gear is being spun but not engaged.. Now it's a fully rebuilt start so I don't know if this is part. Of the problem.. My other problem is the fact of there just isn't any power to this truck.. I have to hit top end rpms just to go anywhere and the timing is set.. And carb has been rebuilt.. From there. Idk I'm lost for this one guys and I've only got 5 weeks to be in college..other than to turn around and sell this truck for a bow tie idk what else to do.. LONG LIVE THE CHEVY just so you guys know my position

 

[RonD]

Yes, Chevy did make a car back in '55 that was very nice, but nothing recently.
I don't think they make trucks, no I am sure of it, they don't, they look very similar to trucks, not sure what to call them though.

Anyway, yes a 31 year old Ford vehicle should not be having any problems, you usually don't see that with Fords until 45 or 50 years old, so I know it must be frustrating.

Starter motor problem could be the motor itself or the Ring Gear, when you pull out the start motor look inside at the ring gear to see if teeth are still in good condition.

Knowing what engine you have would be very helpful ????
2.0l, 2.3l, and 2.8l all had carbs.

The 2.0l/2.3l were basically the same engine, 2.3l was a bored out 2.0l.
They both used timing belts, and when older the belt could stretch and valve timing would be off, this would lower compression and you would have very limited power.
Timing belts and tensioners needed to be changed every 100k miles or so.

Any of the 3 engines could need to have the spark timing reset, or wiring issue isn't allowing spark timing to change for acceleration, so engine would be sluggish.
Does the spark timing change when you rev the engine, it should, and how far did timing move when you reconnected the SPOUT after setting base spark timing?

What did the spark plug tips look like when you checked them?
That can tell you alot about air/fuel mix.

 

[Big Jim M]

Starters have a gear on the end inside the engine. That gear is called the BENDIX. as the starter starts to turn the bendix sends the gear OUT into the ring gear and that turns the engine. After the engine starts the bendix pulls the gear back away from the ring gear of the engine.
Many times the bendix fails in the closed position and will not throw the gear out. I had this recently on my boat engine. I pulled the starter and took the bendix off and gave it a good lubrication. It went right back to work.
Big Jim

 

[Andy D]

I'm not as smart about Rangers as some guys. I need more info. Has it been cold where you live.? Regardless, use the butt of a hammer handle or an equal volume of wood to give the starter a few good raps . Sometimes this will bump a stuck Bendix into operation.

 

[The.demon14]

2.8l v6 I've tapped it.. Had it out and greased it.. It just doesn't work.. And the timing gears look fine.. So honestly.. This is where I wanna draw the line..this is why I am a gm guy... I only bought this thing to get me to Ohio.. From PA... I've tried everything guys have said.. So I'm out of options

 

[Andy D]

Can you bring the starter back? Rebuilds are iffy. I spent 38 bucks for Chinese replica of the Ford starter. It was cheaper than a rebuild kit , which I couldn't find anyway and I don't have a lathe to turn down the commutator. Brand new and it works great. Maybe I won the parts lottery

 

[The.demon14]

Not a parts store rebuild.. Professional rebuilder here stateside.. So no taking it back

 

[adsm08]

I have several concerns, comments, and ideas, not the least of which being an alleged college student thinks this:

Now it's a fully rebuilt start so I don't know if this is part. Of the problem..

Is proper use of grammar and punctuation. Frankly with sentence structure like that you should be sent back to 5th grade.


Next, you said the starter is rebuilt, but from there it seems from what you have posted you assume it is good, no further questions. Have you bench tested it and seen that the bendix is kicking out correctly?

Also, while inspecting the teeth of the flywheel have you spun the engine around by hand to see all of them? This is another point which you have not specifically addressed. I have replaced a number of flywheels and flex plates over issues like this. Each one of them was perfectly OK on about 90% of the teeth, and then there was one area that was chewed so badly the starter couldn't catch very well.

Next item, do you have an auto or a manual? The flex plates on the early Colgone engines, even up through the late 90s, has issues with breaking.


Finally, if you are a college student I am assuming, though I may be wrong, that you are roughly 18-25 years old. The truck is older than you in human years, and car years are rougher than dog years, and the 2.8 was never a power house in the first place. At that age you probably have low compression, worn lifters (they are solid, not rollers) possibly worn push rods, and since you go to school in Ohio you may or may not have a student body who's African American component thinks that the cafeteria menu is racist for not including enough fried chicken based offerings.

Buying a GM is like violence, it's not the answer man. You have an old, worn out engine. These things happen. I think rather than throw your hands up in the air and call it junk because it wore out after 31 years, maybe you should stop to think that most vehicles built back then didn't have the wearwithal to last 31 years, and none of the vehicles being made today, even GMs, will be around in another 31 years, but I am willing to bet there will still be a few 80s Rangers kicking in 2047.

 

[The.demon14]

I appreciate the blunt honestly and the correction. And yes the truck is older than me. I don't assume it's bad, it's the fact I've been over with a fine tooth comb and nothing is adding up. The motor I went through and it looked fairly recently rebuilt. And my manual transmission has from what I see from manufacturer and the dealership manual that I was given says it's the right one I've been over this truck more times than I care to admit. Any case back to the starter said starter was bench tested and worked fine. So that's where my problem begins. Is on a bench it works fine but in my truck is tends to engage one then slip back and then never start my truck again.. So that's where I get lost

 

[adsm08]

Is the trans block plate, the little stamped tin plate between the engine and trans, still there? If it is missing or damaged it could allow the starter to be getting out of place. The plate is roughly equivalent to GM's starter shims. It locates the starter in the correct spot so it makes good contact. Some guys don't put them back in after a clutch job, get lucky and don't have an issue, then one day the starter walks out of position and it baffles everyone.

 

[The.demon14]

Still the plate in place.. But after 30 years it's kinda rounded out larger so.. It's not a precise fit

 

[Andy D]

Dropping the starter was during a clutch job was enough to finally part the ring eye connector on the hot wire from the battery . 3 yrs later, what I thought was a dying starter, turned into a dead short on the little wire. I only discovered this when I put the new starter . Tested it and created a cloud of smoke . I watched the insulation burn off the wire as I franticly got the ground off the battery.

Ford never intended to have the wiring work for 22 yrs . Some doesn't

 

[The.demon14]

The trans plate is still in place... It has been over the years enlarged but with some good ole elbow grease hasnt moved

 

[Andy D]

The rebuilt starter, could it have had a starter drive from an automatic? there is a difference between AT and MT starters. Either one would bench test and not work when Installed in the wrong place

 

[jeremysdad]

Remove starter from vehicle. Lay starter upon ground.

Procure jumper cables.

Attach jumper cables as follows:

Ground of battery to mounting ear of starter (usually aluminum)

(Place foot on body of starter to keep it from jumping before performing following test)

Hot to hot on battery, then TOUCH TO HOT ON STARTER! Never clamp!

If it kicked out and spun, then good starter. If not, then that's how starters work.