stock or gear reduction starter?

[blubuckaroo]

I'm swapping out the C4 for a manual and will need a different starter. I see a lot of cheap gear reduction starters avaliable. Is the reason these little starters cost less is they get by with a motor less than half the size of the origonal? Should I just buy an old fashioned type replacement? They have always worked good for me. So, should it be big or little??:? This is a daily driver for my wife and I. All the parts that go into it have to be of good quality.

 

[Izzy]

Go for the mini starter. I have them in both of mine and they work great!!!

 

[blubuckaroo]

What brand and how long have they lasted?

 

[bronco-billy-66]

I've put junkyard mini's on both my bronco's
It's the only way to go

 

[Izzy]

What brand and how long have they lasted?

One of them was on the Bronco when I bought it so I honestly can't say. The other one I got from WH but have only had it for a couple of months. When I was investigating this, I had found alot of folks liked them and had them for years.

 

[68rockcrawler]

I ran a gear reduction starter for about 3 years before I killed it. I did run in some deep mud a couple of times and it had mud inside it when I tore it apart so I really think that led to it's early demise.

 

[Justafordguy]

I have the mini starter and it works great. It uses much less amps to start and it's easier to get to the bolts to install it.

 

[DirtDonk]

Those are the main reasons I think most people change. Size and amp draw.
Around here, they're not much different in price, so that's not usually stated as a reason. But everyone seems to like being able to hoist it up into place easier, clearing headers easier (staying cooler too, theoretically) and less draw on the battery.
They spin up pretty good too, and have that "later model" sound that is kind of cool to hear on our old rigs.

Nothing wrong with the old-style starters, just that the new ones seem to have those slight advantages stated, and were what Ford went to in later years.

Paul

 

[blubuckaroo]

So what brands are good? The ebay cheapies look just like the ones carried by the Bronco Vendors. Are they the same? What about the Pro-Comp model?

 

[bronco-billy-66]

So what brands are good? The ebay cheapies look just like the ones carried by the Bronco Vendors. Are they the same? What about the Pro-Comp model?

$20 junkyard special
Works great

 

[blubuckaroo]

There are lots of gear reduction starters on ebay. They are identified for auto or manual transmissions but aren't identified for 164 or 157 tooth flywheel. Is there a difference?

 

[bknbronco]

Considering i can get a stock replacement at napa for 60 bucks ill stick with that for now! Until i actually use a gear reduction one i cant say that its any better, and for 300 bucks!

 

[73stallion]

it doesn't cost $300 for a mini, you can get a late model ford mini for $90 all day long with no core charge. they're permanent magnet instead of brush, which is their main advantage. but they draw half the amps and weigh less than half a stock one. they're weak link is the planetary because the main ring gear is plastic. but i've only seen 1 blow because the engine kicked back and chipped a tooth.

http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/catalog.php?item=34