Questions about a new GRS starter in an old FJ40 (1 Viewer)

[rustbucketmike]

The old starter in my '76 FJ40 has been flaky for quite awhile now. It will usually will start the truck, but sometimes just makes a x10 slower than normal turning sound before maybe starting it. So, I decided to try one of these newer GRS starters:

Gear Reduction Starter for FJ40, FJ60 (NEW) First Impressions

Today I received my new Gear Reduction starter which I purchased through AMAZON Rareelectrical. The GR starter was listed for $95, however, I paid $82 shipped with some Amazon discounts. Amazon sells this unit with no core charges and free shipping, they currently have (8) eight in stock. (No...

forum.ih8mud.com

It installed just fine, and it will start the truck, but makes a crazy loud/whiny sound in the process. I knew it would sound different, but this is crazy loud. It sounds plenty strong; way too strong really. Once the truck is started, the sound somehow gets even louder and faster before I hurry and turn the key back.

Did I install it wrong somehow? I attached the positive and negative battery cables, and the one cable (ignition, I assume) that was connected to the old starter. There were no shims on the old starter, which looks OEM to me.

Or maybe I just got a bad unit?

 

[Splangy]

Sounds like you got a bad one.

 

[cruiserkev]

[/QUOTE]

Sounds like you got a bad one.

X2 - I have a GRS in my 76 and it is much quieter than the stock starter.

 

[rustbucketmike]

Here is the exact model that I have (same as in the post I included above)...

Amazon product ASIN B007CA8JWM

 

[rustbucketmike]

 

[greenbeasty]

I'd send that one back! Shouldn't sound like that.

 

[MoCoNative]

Double check your ground cables. I had an original style starter that was acting slow and funky sometimes. Finally one day it stuck and would not release, just kept putting juice to it till it melted the cable and starter. Replaced it, two days later same thing, always fun running around to the front of the truck and trying to get the battery cable off the battery. Turning the key off would not stop it. After that I looked deeper.

If the ground cables are not attached, or poorly grounded the contacts in the starter will pull more amps than they want and weld themselves together. Yours is sticking right now and getting spun by the engine after it kicks over, they really sing through the rear reduction. Could just be a crap unit as stated above, but your comment about your prior starter getting slower makes we wonder if something else is going on. My cables all looked fine, but the ground from starter/engine came over to the frame aft of the battery tray. Battery negative cable cam down and bolted to frame in front of battery tray. I think the bolts had gotten rusty enough that poor power flow was resulting through the bolts and section of frame. Ran a longer cable from starter/engine to same bolt for battery negative on frame, so that least transfer directly under one bolt. No problems since.

 

[rustbucketmike]

So, I tried a 2nd starter and the results aren't much different from the first. I ran a new ground strap, and added two more grounds, but that also didn't seem to make much difference. The 40 starts up great, despite all the noise. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[rustbucketmike]

Double check your ground cables. I had an original style starter that was acting slow and funky sometimes. Finally one day it stuck and would not release, just kept putting juice to it till it melted the cable and starter. Replaced it, two days later same thing, always fun running around to the front of the truck and trying to get the battery cable off the battery. Turning the key off would not stop it. After that I looked deeper.

If the ground cables are not attached, or poorly grounded the contacts in the starter will pull more amps than they want and weld themselves together. Yours is sticking right now and getting spun by the engine after it kicks over, they really sing through the rear reduction. Could just be a crap unit as stated above, but your comment about your prior starter getting slower makes we wonder if something else is going on. My cables all looked fine, but the ground from starter/engine came over to the frame aft of the battery tray. Battery negative cable cam down and bolted to frame in front of battery tray. I think the bolts had gotten rusty enough that poor power flow was resulting through the bolts and section of frame. Ran a longer cable from starter/engine to same bolt for battery negative on frame, so that least transfer directly under one bolt. No problems since.

This is great info. Thank you! I did double check my grounds. I added a ground from the starter up to the battery, like you suggested, and another from the battery to the block. Since the truck is starting okay, I guess I'll move on to another project (for now).

 

[CarbonCruiser]

This is great info. Thank you! I did double check my grounds. I added a ground from the starter up to the battery, like you suggested, and another from the battery to the block. Since the truck is starting okay, I guess I'll move on to another project (for now).

Hey RBM, I just installed a GR starter in my 40 and have the same squeal you do in your video. Did you ever have problems from this. It doesn’t sound like teeth grinding to me.