Lucas starter bleeding oil???

toolgarage · Mar 28, 2015

I have a lucas starter that died on my '71 ford 2110LCG today- I put it in a bucket to take it home, and when I pulled out the bucket at home, the entire bottom of the bucket was covered in a dark gray oil that was dripping out of the gear housing on the starter.

I didn't think that starters contained oil???

This is a Lucas 26395F starter.

Next question. Is Lucas the best starter to get at this point as a replacement, or is a there a better brand/model?

Thanks,

Tool.

Fordfarmer · Mar 29, 2015

Shouldn't be any oil in there. You probably have a leaking rear main seal or transmission input
shaft seal... and a plugged drain hole in the bottom of the bellhousing.

Sean in PA · Mar 29, 2015

I agree that there shouldn't be any oil, but the bearings were greased when new, and if the grease broke down over time and the bearings got ground down as a result, I've seen a similar gray oil as a result, but not in as much quantity as you describe. maybe a previous owner over greased the bearings when they did a rebuild.

toolgarage · Mar 29, 2015

(quoted from post at 03:49:48 03/29/15) Shouldn't be any oil in there. You probably have a leaking rear main seal or transmission input
shaft seal... and a plugged drain hole in the bottom of the bellhousing.

Thanks Fordfarmer. I've had a small drip between the transmission case and the metal plate on the front of the transmission, so I suspect you hit it on the head. I did look for a drain hole on the transmission (Select-O-Speed), but couldn't find it. Do you know approximately how many inches back (from the front edge of the transmission) the drain hole should be located?

Next question is - other than just splitting the tractor, how much of a task is replacing that front transmission seal?

Fordfarmer · Mar 29, 2015

I hadn't thought about an SOS. I don't know offhand if they have that drain hole or not. And my
limited experience with them doesn't include doing seals, so I'm no help there.

shaun wallace · Mar 29, 2015

A S-O-S does have a weep hole. Its closer to front than gear trans.

toolgarage · Apr 11, 2015

(quoted from post at 11:01:02 03/29/15) A S-O-S does have a weep hole. Its closer to front than gear trans.

Well, I finally had a chance to dig into the weep hole, and sure enough, the Bast$(%ard that had the tractor before me plugged it up with some sort of putty..... I cleaned out the hole, and about 1/2 cup of clear transmission oil ran out.... At least I know it's the transmission seal, and not the rear engine seal that's leaking... Hopefully the new starter doesn't get gunked up....

Thanks for the guidance!

Tool

toolgarage · Apr 18, 2015

(quoted from post at 21:38:15 04/11/15)

(quoted from post at 11:01:02 03/29/15) A S-O-S does have a weep hole. Its closer to front than gear trans.

Click to expand...

showcrop · Apr 19, 2015

(quoted from post at 20:45:01 04/18/15)

(quoted from post at 21:38:15 04/11/15)

(quoted from post at 11:01:02 03/29/15) A S-O-S does have a weep hole. Its closer to front than gear trans.

Click to expand...

Well, I finally had a chance to dig into the weep hole, and sure enough, the Bast$(%ard that had the tractor before me plugged it up with some sort of putty..... I cleaned out the hole, and about 1/2 cup of clear transmission oil ran out.... At least I know it's the transmission seal, and not the rear engine seal that's leaking... Hopefully the new starter doesn't get gunked up....

Thanks for the guidance!

When that happened to me it was the
Plot thickens.... I installed the new starter and it didn't seem to be working right. I then replaced the starter switch which was very old and shaky, and now the starter tries to turn the engine over - maybe one revolution, but it's almost like I have a dead battery. I have a brand new battery 12.62V on the multimeter, and brand new battery cables. checked all the connections - tight.

Thinking the new starter I bought is a POS, and I may need another. Any other ideas on this issue beyond having the starter tested/replaced so I don't toast another starter?

Tool

Click to expand...

/quote]

When that happened to me the problem was a bad battery ground. And it was CLEAN! So I cleaned it and it spun right over. What I am saying is I had already checked it and thought it was good, but then I noticed heat there. Another check revealed barely noticeable gray carbon dust on the terminal.

Sean in PA · Apr 19, 2015

Plot thickens.... I installed the new starter and it didn't seem to be working right. I then replaced the starter switch which was very old and shaky, and now the starter tries to turn the engine over - maybe one revolution, but it's almost like I have a dead battery. I have a brand new battery 12.62V on the multimeter, and brand new battery cables. checked all the connections - tight

Battery voltage will almost always read good on a meter when there's no load. Check the battery voltage while the starter is trying to turn the engine. It could be that your brand new battery got discharged when you were fighting with the bad starter, and since you haven't been able to get the engine running the battery hasn't had a chance to get recharged.

Lucas starter bleeding oil???

toolgarage

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Fordfarmer

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Sean in PA

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toolgarage

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Fordfarmer

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shaun wallace

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toolgarage

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toolgarage

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showcrop

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Sean in PA

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