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Caterpillar D3 starter

T

Timo45

New User
How difficult is it to remove the starter on my 1979 D3 cat? I can only see one bolt at the 12 o"clock position. Are there more bolts below? there does not seem to be a lot of room to reach other bolts. BTW the engine is a mitsubishi 3204
 
You're lucky you have a D3 and not a 931 loader! I think there's 3 bolts. Do you have the Nippon Denso starter or the Delco starter? I have a ND in my 931B. I had it checked when the engine was rebuilt but it was dead once. One of the wires on it is a fusible link. I found the problem kind of by fluke. I used a test light and had power from the ignition switch but not to the terminal on the solenoid. There's a short wire that plugs into the ignition wire that goes to the terminal that was broken inside. Didn't have a soldering gun so used a crimp connector with the heat shrink on it. I think you go from the bottom to get the starter out. Loaders are much worse because the loader tower is right there. Could be a solenoid problem too. You have my sympathy if you have to remove the starter.
 
We had a D4C with the 3204 engine and replaced the starter on it, seems like we had to drop the bellypan to get to the bottom bolt. I am sure it had three bolts holding it on.
 
I did a D-4 starter not long ago.... I had to do some fancy wrench bending to reach those lower bolts.. Make sure you remember to replace that gasket on the flange , or it'll leak oil.. Yep , bellypan must come down to access the lower bolts....
 
Yep it is a "wet" starter. If you need it rebuilt, make sure they check the seal in the starter so it doesn't fill with oil.
 
I'm not really sure on the 3C... but on the 4H I have with the 3204... there's 3 bolts. One on the bottom. The way I get that one is with a long 3/8" drive extension and a 12 point socket. Usually you can break it loose like that with a power handle. Extension is going to take some twist tho. The starter will be wet; I believe it's a very expensive Bosch simply because it is wet... so well worth your while to get it rebuilt. It looks like a 42MT... but it's NOT.

Rod
 
The shop doing my engine suggested I replace my ND starter with a Delco when the engine was out. When I took it to the starter shop to have it checked out, the guy said why throw money away! A new starter was close to $700 if I recall. My starter was in good shape, the solenoids had been previously replaced and he said the ND starter is actually more HD than the Delco. It even has a larger shaft for the gear to slide on. I don't even want to think about having to pull it out!
 
I priced a new starter a few months ago as mine was bad. You can add a bill and a half to your estimate. 700 might get you a Delco. I think a reman was 1200 and over 2k for the new Bosch. The Bosch is an excellent starter.

Rod
 
Thanks for all the good advice. It definitely a help. I removed the belly pan to get at the lower bolts and that wasn't too bad. Had to disconnect the front of the blade lift cylinder to gain room to get the starter out of the frame. It's at a shop now. Waiting for some good news that it can be rebuilt.
 
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