----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 6:25
AM
Subject: RE: IML: So? Anyone know where
to find a starter?
Michael:
No worries, thanks for the feedback.
Originally, before I got the car, the starter relay was replaced.
After that, I never had trouble with the starter until the transmission was
rebuilt back in February. After that point, I noticed that the starter
would occasionally "slip." Never thought much about it because it always
caught.
Then, within the past two or three months, the following symptoms would
be revealed over time:
1) The starter would whir but not engage the flywheel;
2) The stater would whir, not engage the flywheel, but when I let
up on the key, there would be a "thunk!" Usually, the car would start on
the next key try;
3) The starter would whir, catch the flywheel, then whir
again;
4) Lastly, the starter would engage the flywheel right off (not
necessarily after any of the above attempts. There have been times when
I got in the Beast and she started right off. Of course, talking sweetly
and patting her on the dash seemed to help).
Eventually, though, the starter wouldn't engage the flywheel at all
(which is where I am now).
With those symptoms, reviewing the FSM, and asking for advice from the
club members, I removed the starter, replaced the solenoid, lubricated the
starter mechanisms as the FSM shows, and replaced the starter.
The same symptoms are evident.
When I removed the starter, the two connecting bolts where damn
tight. I have the skinned knuckles to show for it. When I replaced
the starter, I tightened the bolts as much as my strength would allow though I
could not use a torque wrench on them. The wire connections to the
solenoid are clean & tight and the wires themselves appear to be in good
condition though I have not replaced them.
The starter motor that I had that I wanted to replace the existing
starter motor with is the same size but the mouting holes are different.
The Imperial starter has two mounting holes and orients the solenoid on the
top and slightly to the driver's side (think: Orbiter mounted on the
fuel tank performing its "roll right" maneuver during lift off sans the solid
rocket boosters) whilst the other starter had three mounting holes and
they were in a different configuration such that if mounted properly, the
solenoid would be oriented in a completely different direction -- more toward
the enging block itself. So, I couldn't install that starter.
I did NOT bench test the replacement starter the new solenoid, nor the
old starter.
Thus, I am off to the starter shop today, well, when I get the dern thing
off again.
Thanks again for the suggestions!
--
Joe
Allen, Texas
'61 4D Crown
Southampton
http://www.imperialclub.com/Yr/1961/JoeStill/index.htm
--------------
Original message --------------
Joe,
Sorry if I'm coming in too late on this, but....
Can you tell if the whole starter is spinning but not engaging?
Could be the solenoid, but it could be that the starter is just not quite
correctly seated. I let the dust cover get in the way once on my 68
Imperial, and spent a couple of hours trying to decide why my known
good starter wouldn't work. Was it good and tight when you removed
it? Did it fail all at once, or did it gradually get worse and
worse?
Did the Chrysler starter not fit, or did it just vary in
appearance? I don't know the earlier cars, but I know from my smaller
MOPARs that starters from a 440 Imperial fit a 340 Barracuda, a 318 Valiant,
or a slant six Dart. Some variation in size, but they fit. Even
the newer lightweight Mitsubishi starters on the Dakota pickups
interchange.
And if you do have to replace your starter, you will probably find
that a local automotive electrical shop can rebuild yours and give you a
better product than an off-the-shelf starter for similar or less
expense. I've had poor work done, but usually it's a good way to go,
especially if you keep it as original as possible.
Good luck; let us know what you find.
Michael
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