Gear Reduction Starter!

[M5driver]

OK - it's been a hard day and I'm a little slow tonight... Will the GR starter work in my 78 FJ40? The original starter will do as a spare, but it is reluctant to engage at times. I have been thinking the GR starter would be a logical upgrade, but the vendor I placed the order with is telling me that it will not work with the '78 2F engine (they say 82 or later). Is this really the case? I will probably cancel this order and try again with someone else if the starter actually will work in the Blue Mule.

Thanks for the help/advice.

 

[MoCoNative]

M5, should work fine, their book tells them GR for 82 an up, regular starter on previous. Just make them give you a starter for 82 and up.

I will say that last winter, I was not able to trade a regular style starter for a GR unit at NAPA. But my store is pretty good and the counter people are usually on top of things. So I had to eat the core charge, but not a huge deal. Unit seemed to be fair quality. Better than the aftermarket, fit all starter they had been selling me for the early replacement. Also far easier to mount, as the stock style starter is nearly impossible to get a wrench on the engine side bolt.

Personally though, didn't see much difference in starting RPM. In fact before the swap, I tried both my 60 and 40 on a very, very cold morning, as nothing wanted to start that day. This was very unscientific, and cold does many things to batteries, but my batteries are usually in good shape. The 40 wanted to turn over and spin much faster than the 60 that morning. This was the kind of cold, where both engines would barely turn anyways. But the 40 did turn better. Could also be the extra loads on the 60, smog, PS etc... where my 40 only has one thing, Alt.

 

[M5driver]

M5, should work fine, their book tells them GR for 82 an up, regular starter on previous. Just make them give you a starter for 82 and up.

I will say that last winter, I was not able to trade a regular style starter for a GR unit at NAPA. But my store is pretty good and the counter people are usually on top of things. So I had to eat the core charge, but not a huge deal. Unit seemed to be fair quality. Better than the aftermarket, fit all starter they had been selling me for the early replacement. Also far easier to mount, as the stock style starter is nearly impossible to get a wrench on the engine side bolt.

Thanks. I'll see what the vendor has to say. I emailed saying I thought this would work.

I don't have to worry about NAPA parts countermen here (man, that would be nice!) I have to get everything by mail order, takes 6-8 weeks to get here, sometimes longer, and I can't return anything if I make a mistake on an order. Sometimes, getting what I need is like pushing a string. Uphill. 5 miles... through the snow... Like getting the Rust Bullet I paid for from S Africa. Paid in full before Christmas - still hasn't showed up. Latest ETA was Sunday, with delivery to me on Monday. Didn't happen and right now, no one seems to know the whereabouts of the truck that is transporting my stuff, not even the owner of the trucking company.

Anyway, if these guys balk, I'll just cancel that order and check elsewhere - maybe CruiserDan. I just want something to replace the original starter, since it is a little problematic, and I really don't need a failed starter here.

Thanks again.

 

[M5driver]

Talked to the vendor again - GR starter is on the way! Thanks all

 

[ProvoCruiser]

i just retired the original starter after 30 years of work in my 40, i put in the gr toyota starter. i definitely recommend the upgrade.

 

[IDave]

I like how easy the GR starter starts the truck.
But I liked the way the old starter sounded better...

I, too, find the GR sound annoying.

 

[snotank]

Wow, I just spent 295. on a mean green gr starter - wish I read this stuff first coulda saved some $$$ I was a bit confused about the extra wire as well Thanks all!!!

 

[CruisinMT]

on my 67 i have 3 wires coming out of the wiring loom. Where do i need to hook each up to the new GR starter i got. one to the coil, the rest on the nutted bolt including the pos. batt cable, and one plugs on correct?

 

[Mr. Toad]

on my 67 i have 3 wires coming out of the wiring loom. Where do i need to hook each up to the new GR starter i got. one to the coil, the rest on the nutted bolt including the pos. batt cable, and one plugs on correct?

You only need two of the three going to the starter.

Edit: I'm retracting the rest of what I wrote based on iDave's (who should not stfu) post because he's got colors and wires that I don't. Don't want bad info out there, but see bsevans' post on the first page, and look at your wiring diagram.

 

[Mr. Toad]

fyi -- Toyota lists the OEM starter in Landpimp's picture for $113.82. Which means you should be able to get it for $85-$90.

pn 28100-60070, replaced by 28100-6007084

 

[Sea Knight]

fyi -- Toyota lists the OEM starter in Landpimp's picture for $113.82. Which means you should be able to get it for $85-$90.

pn 28100-60070, replaced by 28100-6007084

Yep, you can buy it (from CDan or John Hocker) for $84.68, plus shipping.

FWIW, I heard that Toyota is increasing parts prices on 1/1/09.

 

[IDave]

Maybe I'm all screwy here and I should STFU, but in my early trucks, the three wires coming off the wire harness together near the starter are:

BW: Ignition switch to Starter magnet

W: Ammeter to Starter main terminal

BY: Ignition switch to coil

Tape off any of those and you're going to have issues.

 

[IDave]

You only need two of the three going to the starter.

Edit: I'm retracting the rest of what I wrote based on iDave's (who should not stfu) post because he's got colors and wires that I don't. Don't want bad info out there, but see bsevans' post on the first page, and look at your wiring diagram.

bsevan was addressing Pygpen's 75 setup.

 

[Mr. Toad]

bsevan was addressing Pygpen's 75 setup.

Yeah, mine's a '75 too.

 

[CruisinMT]

I got it put in and what a difference. thats a torquey little starter.

 

[n2666s]

connecting new gear reduction starter 78 fj55

same confusion........my old starter crapped out....... went to NAPA...asked for one for an 80 to 90 LC......got an original new gear reduction starter; after trading in my old one as "core" came to about 125$ with taxes.....put it in then.......then came the problem.....new one only has two terminals...the old one 3fj60s don't have Ballast resistors IIRCnew gear reduction starters don't have a terminal for them......don't hook up the Ballast resistor cable......after talking with Marshall <Trollhole>....... Large wire cable off the + battery post to the large post on the starter........spade connector to the the ignition wire......piggy just cranked up nicely

Lou

 

[Trollhole]

Still think you should have used the hand crank.

Speaking of that I tried it on my 55 a while back. It was actually easy to turn the motor over. Everyone said I was going to break my arm. After repeated cranking trying to get it to start I realized I didn't have the keys in the cruiser.lol

 

[handcannon]

Still think you should have used the hand crank.

Speaking of that I tried it on my 55 a while back. It was actually easy to turn the motor over. Everyone said I was going to break my arm. After repeated cranking trying to get it to start I realized I didn't have the keys in the cruiser.lol

Hey Troll

You just made my day. I've spent most of the day TRYING to change ball joints on my Astro van, got one side done, WHOOPEE. Wish auto designers had to work on their own creations. GRRRRRR. Anyhow, read your post and cracked up. I couldn't begin to know how many times I've been in your shoes trying to crank up the Farmall Cub that my Dad had when I was just a sprout. Four cylinder motor, a whole twelve HP, and it could kick like a mule.

Don

 

[n2666s]

Troll; thanks for the help.....it was total caos at the napa parts counter yesterday; when you hit 60 things change a bit you might get a bit wiser like not trying to handcrank an inline 6 cyl or using your hand/wrist to kickstart your Triumph twin just blanked off the Ballast resister wire and she is running and cranking beautifully! ;&

Lou

 

[lndczr4045]

Need an update on this starter issue, I have a 1978 FJ40 with a Mean Green unit. The mean green is no longer mean and I went to replace it with a Toyota GR unit and the bolt pattern are not the same. The GR unit I have I really don't know what year it came out off so I am hoping that's the issue.
Has anyone seen this problem, I ordered a NAPA 446154 and I hope it's different from the one I have.
Any information will be appriciated.
Regards,
Rene'