Starter spins engine won't crank

[gooch66]

When the key is turned, the starter clicks then spins but the engine won't crank. Lights and electrical work. Is the starter not engaging?

 

[bronconut73]

Bendix....?

 

[gooch66]

The starter is a high torque version from TBP.

 

[spap]

Did it ever work? or when you replaced with the new one did it just start spinning

 

[gooch66]

I've had the starter just over a year. Only major change has been th AX15 upgrade and a new flywheel. It's been fine over the past week.

 

[blubuckaroo]

Sounds like the starter solenoid isn't pulling the bendix into the flywheel/flexplate.
Make sure the wire hasn't come loose from the solenoid on the starter.

 

[spap]

What blu said you can try tapping the starter too. But it seems pretty new
Something is sticking

 

[Broncobowsher]

For some odd reason the internet has been teaching people the wrong meaning of "engine cranking". So I want to start with confirming something.

When the starter spins, does the crankshaft rotate? If yes, the starter is fine and you have some other issue.
If the starter just goes "weeeeeeeeeeeeee" and spins like mad and the crankshaft does not engage at all, The starter is likely an issue. Everyone is going with this second one as the problem, so I will as well.

Have you tried bump starting the engine? IF nothing else just to get the crank in a slightly different spot. If you lost a tooth on the flywheel and it stopped in just that right spot the starter won't engage.

After that I would be pulling the starter. It sounds like the Bendix (one way clutch on the pinion drive) is bad. I doubt it is the solenoid itself as that throws the starter gear into the flywheel before the contacts to drive the motor engage. Since the starter is spinning the contacts are made (unless it is wired funny bypassing the on starter solenoid, which can make a bad solenoid wire a possibility).

New parts go bad, sometimes quickly. Even parts that should really be good sometimes get a bum one.

 

[Crush]

Was it an automatic before the ax install? If so are you using the same starter? If it was and you are then you have the wrong starter. The auto starter will not engage the manual flywheel. U will a starter for any manual trans ford.

 

[gooch66]

The starter is the same I had with the three speed and worked great. I have checked all of the connections and tried to start again and the same thing. The flywheel is new and there should not be any missing teeth just yet. The starter just spins and does not engage the flywheel. It just may be time for a new starter. Thanks for all of the input.

 

[bronconut73]

http://m.autozone.com/batteries-sta...ers-t-5-0l-mfi-ohv-ho/12385_23521_0?location=

This should be it if you need to get it locally.