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1973 Chevy Truck starter jumping and light grinding

Tiny
BIGREDTRUCK86
  • MEMBER
  • 1973 CHEVROLET TRUCK
Electrical problem
1973 Chevy Truck V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic

i have a 73 chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 350/350, I have put a new starter on it and keep haveing problems. It is shimed right, I can start it right up in the morning when its cool but have noticed that about noonish when it gets hot outside the starter like to hangup and do some grinding and jumping, I have also replaced the cable to it, and it still does the same. Im wondering if the battery has enough cranking amps to turn it fast enough or not. Maybe it is the starter but im almost sure it aint. Any help will be great, got any ideas. Thanks
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Sunday, July 26th, 2009 AT 11:11 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,896 POSTS
I realize it's a new starter, but I think you may have gotten a bad one. What I would recommend it take the truck to a nationally recognized parts store (when it is hotter in the day) and have them do a load test on the battery to see if it holds up when it is hot. If it does, I would say the starter is the problem.

NOTE:
Most parts stores will do the load test for free, so there will be no money out of pocket to have it checked. Also, have them do an amprage draw test on the starter. It may be drawing too many amps and the battery can't keep up with it (especially if it is a remanufactured starter).

Let me know what you find.

Joe
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Sunday, July 26th, 2009 AT 11:46 PM
Tiny
BIGREDTRUCK86
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  • 6 POSTS
Ok, I can try that, I noticed the battery in it is a marine battery. Not alot of cranking amps. Its the same battery that came with the truck, im going to put a slight bigger battery in it and try that because this truck was haveing the same starter problems before I bought it and the guy before bought several starters for it, and also had to put a new flywheel in it. He did not have any shims at all, im wondering if I try takeing out all the shims might make a difference with it.
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Monday, July 27th, 2009 AT 12:41 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,896 POSTS
It may change it. You may even have to change the number of shims. If the battery is still good, you may just have it checked rather than replacing it. I was taught, as a minimum, the cranking amps should equal the cubic inch of the engine.

350 CI = 350 cold cranking amps as a minimum.
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Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 AT 11:27 PM
Tiny
BIGREDTRUCK86
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  • 6 POSTS
Ok, it has a new starter on it. It was starting all day just fine. But I finally drove it up the road and got back and shut it off and tried starting it again, but now it just cranks really slow. As if starter is just dragging, maybe heatshield for the starter?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 10:33 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,896 POSTS
That is possible. Does the truck have headers on it or do you feel that the starter may be getting too hot from the engine?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 11:48 AM
Tiny
BIGREDTRUCK86
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  • 6 POSTS
No I dont run headers, I think its the engine doing it, but it may be jumping time also, I noticed the destributer loose, that have anything to do with it?
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 11:52 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Yes the distributor can cause the engine to crank slowly if it moves and the timing gets too far advanced. Do you have a timing light? If so, set the timing and tighten the distributor.

Let me know if this helps.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 11:58 AM
Tiny
BIGREDTRUCK86
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
I dont have a timeing light but I have moved it but hand and sometimes it helps and some times it dont, I havent tested the battery yet, but I put it on the charger, but I cant help but think its the battery doing this, it had 400 cold cranking amps, and 502 cranking amps, I cant help but think this may be the problem, theres nothing else in the ignition system that would cause this is there? Sometimes it turns over perfect and other times it gives a short crank and then acts like the starter trys to jump, if that makes any sense
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 3:25 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Honestly, I really think it has to do with the timing. That is where I would start. Some parts stores will lend or rent tools. You may want to try that. If the timing is too far advanced, it will sound like the battery is weak to turn over the engine. It wil crank, seem to stop, then crank, then seem to stop. Wow, this is hard to describe.

Joe
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 4:05 PM
Tiny
BIGREDTRUCK86
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Ok im going to wrk with the timeing in the morning. But I decided to put a shim in the starter and it fired right up perfect, shut it on and off bout 5-10 times and never missed a beat, im going to see how it works tomorrow and ill let ya know what happens. You been alot of help thank you very much.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 10:10 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,896 POSTS
I'm glad to help. I do recommend setting the timing. What happens is if it is too far advances, the spark ignites the fuel in the cylenders too early. As a result, the piston tries to fire backwards and slows the starter to a point that it will hardly turn the engine over. Let me know how it works. If the distributor is still loose and it's starting good now, tighten it to see if the easy starting continues.

Joe

PS: Thanks for using 2carpros. Com, and I look forward to hearing from you.
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Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 AT 11:43 PM

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