Starter or binding with new clutch and 4speed conversion

[bdiemer]

Facts: 72 fj40, f motor, Changed from 3spd tranny to 4spd using 3speed transfer case and new clutch and flywheel and still not finished.

Problem: Changed starter just because during tranny swap. Drive shafts are off, clutch, tranny, and transfer are installed and I can move flywheel with my hand from underneath. All linkages are functioning properly. When I crank it the starter moves very slow and then goes into clicking. Odyssey battery is charged. I added a ground from the starter to the frame, new positive from battery to starter, new ground from battery to frame. Have not pulled the starter and taken it back to Napa. Also, last week I had one incident for the first time where I turned key and nothing happened, tried again and started right up. This is why I changed starter not knowing it's history. Today the three wires from the Alternator loomed together running across the valve cover fried in the middle. After inspection it was noticed the the wires were previously spliced inside the loom. Repaired the alternator wires properly and still get the click. Going to charge battery overnight and check in the morning. Is it possible that something could be binding the starter due to the new clutch etc? or does it sound like a bad starter? Note: Old Starter before replacement worked fine before with no issues. Thanks

 

[jeffj40]

You didnt move your distributor during all that work did you? sounds like the timing could be binding the motor if you got good juice and good grounds.

Good luck.

 

[bdiemer]

Timing and motor are unchanged. Just parked it and pulled the tranny, transfer and clutch and replaced all of the above and kicked in a starter for grins and now i think it is the starter with the problem.

 

[handcannon]

Facts: 72 fj40, f motor, Changed from 3spd tranny to 4spd using 3speed transfer case and new clutch and flywheel and still not finished.

Problem: Changed starter just because during tranny swap.

When I crank it the starter moves very slow and then goes into clicking. Odyssey battery is charged. I added a ground from the starter to the frame, new positive from battery to starter, new ground from battery to frame.

Note: Old Starter before replacement worked fine before with no issues. Thanks

The slow moving starter and clicking is classic low voltage scenario. You are already checking/charging the battery. The clicking sound is the solinoid chattering in and out of contact inside it due to not enough voltage. Double check for clean contacts on your new cables where they attach to the frame, starter, and battery. Did you clean the battery posts before putting on the new cables? Did you replace the starter solinoid with the new starter? If not, the contact points inside could be burnt not allowing good contact. Solinoids are not hard to take apart. The contacts inside are square headed bolts. I have taken these bolts loose and turned them 180* to get new contact surfaces for temporary, get back home fixes.

Good luck!
Don

 

[bdiemer]

Smart guy me stripped and painted my bell housing up nice and purty before I started the conversion. So, where starter bolts into bell housing there is probably zero ability to ground. Duh! Going to pull starter and expose some bare metal for real ground contact.

 

[bdiemer]

Thanks Hardcannon. Cleaned the paint on the bellhousing where the starter mounts and verified that batt positive and negative were clean. Black Betty is cranking like a trailer park tweeker!!! Time to put the shafts, tunnel and seats in!!! 4 low we go!