Well started my truck up today fired up like it always does but the starter still spun a good 5 seconds after the truck started like a high pitch wine it only does this once in a while. Any ideas?

 

The starter drive, commonly called the bendix, must be bad. You can just replace the bendix. Ford no longer supplies a replacement bendix, so choose a quality suppier if you go that route. I replaced the bendix in my '88 F-150 with 217K miles a couple months ago and the starter works good as new. I used a Wilson brand bendix, made in canada, less than nine dollars.

 

Haha its kind of funny i had called a couple auto parts stores around here i had called four stores 3 of them said u cant replace it and i would have to buy whole new starter so i called one more store and they have it on order for me.
Its only a 8 dollar part so we will see if it fixes the problem.

 

Seems familiar to me too, mine stays engaged for a second in the cold, never when warm or when the truck is warm. For the money and time of doing this job, myself, I'd get a whole new starter. This is mainly due to connections I have made in the auto electric fields, I get good deals. I'm sure I could do it myself with just replacing the Bendix, you as well considering it is 10 bucks give or take. I think you gotta put some anti-seize on the shaft and that helps from it sticking so much. Good luck in finding someone with just that part, I myself have never seen one, but now I'll look, curious myself.

 

Yea my local auto zone had it.

 

I think the bendix is still pretty readily available. The stores you called and told you you have to replace the whole starter probably didn't know where to look for the part in their parts books. When you take the starter apart do not, I repeat DO NOT pull the armature out of the brushes at the front of the starter. On the older Ford starters(yes older than 1990) it was a royal pain to get the armature back in the brushes. I'm not sure about your 1990, but I wouldn't take the chance. Take care when you remove the back housing not to do this. Make sure the bendix slides freely where it slides on the shaft. Then put a little grease on this area after you make sure it slides free, I use white lithium grease or motor assembly lube. Also put some lube on the shaft where it turns in the rear bushing.

 

Thanks masseyman i am going to do it at my school so i will have my diesel teacher with me so i dont mess anything up.

 

Would this be the same issue if the starter does not engage the flywheel completely and grinds on the flywheel? Boy what an awful sound I thought it was me not starting properly but it is occurring more and more.

 

Having had this problem meny, many moons ago, I'd say YES! (A sticking starter drive).

And, you'd better get it fixed right away, because that "grinding" sound is a symptom of damage to both the starter drive gear (you'll be replacing that), AND to the ring gear! It's going to be expensive to replace the ring gear if it gets damaged too much.

You'll know it's been damaged if you have the same symptoms AFTER you've replaced the starter drive. The worn, or broken gear teath in the ring gear will not mate properly with the starter.

As I said, get right on it and good luck!

- Jack

 

wow this threads old, anyways yes replace the started if its grinding when u got o start it. Get it done like JackandJanet said it will start to ruin the ring gear