Sanity check on Summit Protorque Mini Starter install

[Devin]

Guys, need some help. I can't get my starter to engage. Solenoid just clicks. I have one of these starters from summit:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-820048/?rtype=7

Currently, I have a heavy gauge wire running from the bare post on the housing straight up to the positive side of the battery. One the small post on the outside of the starer, I have a wire running up to the "starter side" of the solenoid. This is correct, right?

Anything else to check?

 

[Viperwolf1]

Wiring should work. That is a 385 series starter so hopefully you have the motor to go with it. Pull it out and see if it works on the ground.

 

[bax]

The add says for a 385 series engine. the 400 is a 335 series engine However as far as I know they are the same. Do what Phil says and try it out of the truck or loosen it up and give it some play and see if it will spin?

 

[brewchief]

The add says for a 385 series engine. the 400 is a 335 series engine

My 351m and 460 took the same starter.

 

[Devin]

My 351m and 460 took the same starter.

Yep. It is the correct starter. I am stumped. It is a solenoid from a '97 Ford PU - diode suppressed. Can I just jump the solenoid like the old ones and check to see if the brand new solenoid is the culprit?

 

[bax]

Kick it.

 

[Viperwolf1]

Yep. It is the correct starter. I am stumped. It is a solenoid from a '97 Ford PU - diode suppressed. Can I just jump the solenoid like the old ones and check to see if the brand new starter is the culprit?

Should be able to hook the large cable directly to the battery side and skip the old solenoid.

Nevermind, you already did that.

The small wire should be hot (12v) with key in START.

 

[bax]

Sure you can. That starter has a 2 wire connection. make a jumper wire from the small terminal to the big terminal. it should work after that if you are using the standard ford solenoid system

 

[Devin]

Should be able to hook the large cable directly to the battery side and skip the old solenoid.

Nevermind, you already did that.

The small wire should be hot (12v) with key in START.

Check. It is hot when I turn the key. So that means it is a problem with the solenoid on the starter or the starter itself, right?

 

[bax]

Is it hot with the key in the start position?

 

[Viperwolf1]

Check. It is hot when I turn the key. So that means it is a problem with the solenoid on the starter or the starter itself, right?

If it clicks the solenoid may be fine and the starter may be binding. If it doesn't click the solenoid may be bad or you have a bad ground between the block and the battery

 

[Devin]

If it clicks the solenoid may be fine and the starter may be binding. If it doesn't click the solenoid may be bad or you have a bad ground between the block and the battery

Solenoid clicks. I will pull the starter out and try it on the ground.

 

[bax]

OK fine don't listen to me. mine has a jumper wire.

 

[Devin]

Clicks on the ground, too.


Sorry bax, I was out following VW's instructions when your recommendation came up.

 

[bax]

That wire is only hot when the key is in the start position. your stock solenoid will do the switching work for you. A jumper on the starter should spin that sucker when you turn the key to start position..

 

[Viperwolf1]

Could still be either a bad solenoid or motor then.

 

[bax]

Could still be either a bad solenoid or motor then.

So then it will be "hammer time"
Poor Devin just one more kick in the nuts for him.

 

[Devin]

Ok. So I took the starter out, took off the back cover and hook it directly up to power (just like Bax said). The shaft at the end kind of "wiggles" a little bit, but no spinny. The innards look a little strange:



There is a little hook that is connected to the large terminal on the starter case. There is a strange burn mark on it and some burn marks on the shaft. The burn marks on the "hook" looking thing are where the arrow is pointing.

 

[Devin]

Gotta go clean up. Bronco 58,819,291. Devin 0.


Thanks a bunch for the help, guys.

 

[bax]

Devin I never told you to take it apart. What I wanted you to do was make a small jumper wire to go from the small terminal to the larger terminal right next to it. Install this wire and then hook the big power to the large terminal. These starters are not wired like ford one wire starters. So the jumper wire is needed to let the key start feature work. With the jumper in place the starter will work just like a ford one wire set up. If you want to use the 2 wire set up you have to run the smaller wire to the start side of your solenoid on the fender well. It's just an extra wire you don't need.
Did you ever put big power to the starter wire after the solenoid just to see if the starter turns over?