Removing the starter (f$!&@ing bolts and no room

[Barbarosa]

so I've got liquid wrench soaking on the bolts now. On a 1994 type80. How or what do you all suggest to break the bad boys loose? Motor has seen over 240k miles, looks like original starter. Freaking aye- what can I get in there to get enough kick to break them loose!

Ideas? Thanks team.

 

[ajax1]

I use socket wrench and extension

 

[bigredmachine]

long 3/8 ratchet with a 17mm swivel socket

 

[bigredmachine]

and its easier to take the starter out if you remove the bolt holding the brake line bracket, you can move the brake lines and ge t a little more room

 

[flintknapper]

What do the bolt heads look like? Do you live in the 'rust belt'?

 

[LouisianaRubicon]

I used a long extension with a wobble socket and that made it way easier.

 

[Flank]

I Seem to remember removing the bolt holding the dipstick tube in place as well... But, on your back with extensions to get at the starter bolts.

 

[Barbarosa]

Colorado is the location - prime wheeling here. I was looking at the brake line bracket- that will give a might more room indeed. Yeah it's just breaking the initial pop to get them spinning. I've a variety if angles bits, extensions, bars, hammers, torches and persistent attitude- I have the wheel off and truck on jack stands. Will get more liquid wrench on it at dawn and keep at it. Was just hoping for some Merlin magic or secret sequence of whiskey hammers and dancing girls to get the bolts to break free.

 

[BILT4ME]

Oh, but according to the know it alls here, it only takes 30 minutes to swap a starter.........

 

[Tools R Us]

Oh, but according to the know it alls here, it only takes 30 minutes to swap a starter.........

About right, having the needed tools helps and depends on the starter, the 1.4kw is the easiest, a 2.2kw is huge, little room around it, so most challenging. Have an old school, small/skinny 3/8" impact that sneaks in there, making it much easier.

 

[BILT4ME]

About right, having the needed tools helps and depends on the starter, the 1.4kw is the easiest, a 2.2kw is huge, little room around it, so most challenging. Have an old school, small/skinny 3/8" impact that sneaks in there, making it much easier.

I know. I was bitching about this in a different thread. Took me 2-1/2 hours and I thought I was moving right along, but I was laying on an incline driveway and had not done one on these before. Also, I'm slow.

The OP has started out the same as me. I ended up using standard combination wrenches to get it done on one bolt, and a bunch of extensions and a socket and wobble on the other. Quite the pile of tools for two bolts and one wire connection.

 

[Barbarosa]

Will try loosening the brake line bracket and getting my impact in there ... for the top bolt at least.. that bottom one... yeah i have the bigger motor it looks like... heading out there to the yard soon.

 

[2fpower]

Really @BILT4ME ??? This is a 30 minute deal. Were your buddies Jack and Jim there helping?

 

[BILT4ME]

Really @BILT4ME ??? This is a 30 minute deal. Were your buddies Jack and Jim there helping?

I wish. Maybe dear Old Grandad too!!!

My time is usually "times two and add 30" and even that's short. The other way of calculating time is what it takes in hours for others, takes me in days. 30 minutes = 4 hours......8 hours = 8 days.

 

[half k cruiser]

Oh, but according to the know it alls here, it only takes 30 minutes to swap a starter.........

No that's the fuel filter. If your just doing a straight up starter swap maybe 10-15 min tops. Usually takes longer to put the tools and jack stands away

That starter really isn't that bad. As mentioned socket extensions, then probably a breaker bar or an extendable ratchet (my favorite) to get the bolts moving, then use whatever you want.

 

[benjrblant]

Time is all relative.

Especially if you don't have the ideal tools and/or haven't done the job before.

 

[slow95z]

I found my 1 inch body lift made changing the starter 10 times easier. The 93 starter is no 30 minute job.

 

[Alleycats]

The easiest access for the starter is from the wheel well, and I just used a breaker bar.

 

[Barbarosa]

After moving the brake line I could barely squeeze my impact in there and it took 5 minutes of hitting on the one top bolt. The bottom one I could reach from below with deep socket and breaker bar wrench-(old cheap torque wrench is 16" long)

Since I made the room and the fuel filter is right there I just took it out. Check out this funny part. My fuel filter was bolted to the header with one bolt but since so far in I couldn't get a solid angle on the 12mm so I was able to put every extension I had and hit it... laughed my arse of look at this photo!

 

[flintknapper]

Oh, but according to the know it alls here, it only takes 30 minutes to swap a starter.........

(AFTER) you get the bolts loose.