8N starter removal

Jeff Cook · Aug 3, 2013

What is the smartest way to remove starter to see if bendix or
flywheel ring gear is in need of repair/replacement?

R Geiger · Aug 3, 2013

If it is working, then the smartest thing would be leave it alone! Other than that it is pretty simple. remove wire and the two bolts and remove. may have to remove block drain and loosen oil filter mount. Hold your mouth just right and it will come right out. Once you have moved it out a bit, put nuts back on the two long bolts or you will learn how to put the starter back together.

Del Huebner · Aug 3, 2013

This is what you will be working against to remove. Hopefully the hole has been elongated to allow easier removal and installation.

Bruce (VA) · Aug 3, 2013

There are four things that make starter installation easy:

1. Having the correct bendix on the starter
2. Have an egg-shaped hole in the bell housing
3. Technique
4. 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.

As to technique.........

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.
75 Tips

BigYoung · Apr 7, 2015

(quoted from post at 19:00:05 08/03/13) There are four things that make starter installation easy:

1. Having the correct bendix on the starter
2. Have an egg-shaped hole in the bell housing
3. Technique
4. 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.

As to technique.........

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.
75 Tips

Marked for reference - my turn for starter R/R!

8N starter removal

Jeff Cook

New User

R Geiger

Well-known Member

Del Huebner

Member

Bruce (VA)

Well-known Member

BigYoung

Member

Similar threads