Removing starter

My 52 8n seems to have a problem with the starter. If I rap it with a wooden handle, it'll go ahead, and turn over. The selNoid looks brand new. It looks easy enough to take off, and have rebuilt. Anything I should know, before I tackle the job? I have tightened up all the connections on it hoping that was the problem.

The starter has 3 major exterior components; front plate, barrel & rear plate. The 2 bolts that hold the starter on to the bell housing go through all three components & hold it all together.

To remove the starter, unscrew the bolts out of the block & put a nut on one of them. Otherwise, the starter comes apart. Not fatal, but not fun either. (tip # 36 at the link below) Then, loosen the two bolts holding the oil filter canister to the block, (it does not need to be removed) remove the dipstick, and keep the starter close to the block while pushing the front of it down and lifting the back up. Sometimes you have to remove the drain petcock as well.The bendix is behind the flywheel; your job is to get it over the flywheel.

Caution: while the starter is off, resist the temptation to screw with the bendix. If you extend the bendix, and it is not the OEM bendix w/ the big spring, you will have a hard time getting the starter installed.

To install the starter, keep it close to the block while pulling the front of it up and pushing the bendix back into the hole. The bendix has to go behind the flywheel; your job is to get it over the flywheel. Grinding out an egg shape at the 2 o'clock position before you put it back will make your life easier.

Lastly, while the starter is off, polish the block & all starter mating surfaces w/ sandpaper to insure a good electrical ground. First, clean the mating area between the barrel and rear plate. Then, clean the mating surfaces where the aluminum rear plate meets the bell housing. The starter's ground circuit is not only through the two long bolts but from the barrel to the rear plate & then to the bell housing as well.

If you do not have a local rebuild shop, give these guys a call for a quote & shipping info:

Automotive Manufacturers Inc
2400 N Lombardy St Richmond, VA 23220
(804) 321-6861

They do mail order work. They rebuild carbs, clutches, pressure plates, water pumps, alternators, generators, starters & reline brakes.

75 Tips

When I inherited my 48 8N in the mid-90's, it had the same symptoms..., and nothing I did externally improved it. So I took it off and took it to an alternator shop. The brushes were totally worn, plus they put an improved bendix on it. I followed the other excellent instructions you've received. It is one bear of a job to get back in, unless you just have the Midas touch; but it will fit if you mess with it enough and talk to it nicely. There is an awkward moment during installation when you are taking the nuts off the long mounting bolts while trying to not let the thing come apart. Good luck!

" It is one bear of a job to get back in,"


There are 3 things that make starter installation easy:

1. Having the correct bendix on the starter
2. Technique
3. Plain dumb luck.

I've pulled & installed starters on N's probably 100 times & every now & then, one will bust my chops. The last time it happened is when I found out that there are a few after market bendix's that will fit the Ford starter but are just a bit too long for an 8N.

Make sure the rebuild shop gets the correct bendix.
75 Tips

You have to hold your tongue just right.

Several times Ive had bad ground between starter and bell housing.as you said it is very important.This may be the problem

You might want to remove the brush cover band and have a look see what is going on. I have seen more then one where the brushes are sticking and cause that problem and can be fixed just by messing with them.

Thanks for the replies, I might have known, it wasn't as easy as it looked.

(quoted from post at 06:33:12 10/27/14)If I rap it with a wooden handle, it'll go ahead, and turn over.

Click to expand...

Classic worn brush problem.

I started my '74 Nova that way for a week before I had time to fix it.

My 2N has been doing this once in a while, so I'm thinking I have some starter work coming soon.

I had a problem with my starter,took it off to
take it to my favorite starter guy. He's an old
school style workaholic that I've had rebuild
several alternators on family cars. He griped,said
someone messed with it,took it apart,put it back
together,telling me don't replace the"bendix" with
an "improved one"and handed it to me in about 5
minutes. He refused to take money,but griped
enough that I wished that he'd charged me.It
started right up,then the starter on my Toyota
went out,so he got paid anyway. lha

We had a local guy like that. Good work, good return time, and my favorite, good price. Age and health problems took him out of the equation. Bummer. The worst part is - there ain't anyone else.