Starter help

[sypher]

hello peoples.

i recently got a 84 ranger with a 2.8 in it for $180 knowing it had a bad ring gear and some starter issues. so i pulled the engine, replaced the ring gear, put a working used starter in it and put it all back together.

i went to start it and the solenoid would just click. i charged the battery and put a new solenoid in it just to be safe. along the way i found i had missed connecting a few ground wires. after reconnecting those she would turn over. but after a couple seconds of turning over a small ground wire coming off the main battery ground cable melted in half. then the starter would not turn off unless i unhooked the battery. now if i reconnect the battery, power is still going to the starter.

what do i do now?

 

[PanamaExpat]

Sounds like your solenoid fused internally. I have seen this happen before on diesels and once or twice on gas jobs. Basically the disc on the solenoid actuator welds itself to the terminals that it bridges. No real way to fix it other than a different solenoid. Also double check your wiring against a diagram to make sure you have everything going where it belongs.

But.... Most important of all.... WELCOME TO TRS.

Another question? How freely did the motor turn? You also said used starter. Did you check the brushes and bushings before putting it on? If your solenoid is indeed fused then you need to look for what created the excessive current draw that cased it to stick.