Thread: SBF Starter

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The last couple of days when I hit the starter button the starter has engaged, but then "uncoupled" with a mild clashing of gears, which made me cringe. Second hit immediately started, so I thought that the engine was giving a "partial start", just enough to roll off of the bendix. Today I went out to a little air show near by, and when I hit the starter to leave it sounded very strange - kind of like it was not fully engaged, with a bit of "flutter". Pulled the starter, and it's a no-name, no ID with integral solenoid - came from Forte's Performance with the tranny/clutch/bellhousing package, which I now know to be what Summit sells as their Mini, Hi-Torque Starter - http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-829302/. Hot wired it seems to be working fine, but who knows what it's doing under load. This starter has had a very hard life, with all of the hassles and hard starting I've been through, maybe equivalent five years life or more. Here's some pictures of the beast for ID. Any thoughts? Just buy a new starter?

Starter 001.JPGStarter 004.JPGStarter 002.JPGStarter 003.JPG

After thinking about it a bit I called Mike Forte and he shared with me that my starter is OEM for a '94-95Mustang, or a '97-99 Explorer with standard tranny. Armed with that I went to the auto parts store, matched up the starter, and came home with a new one. It spins faster, is much quieter, and engages smoothly. All that with a very obvious MADE IN CHINA sticker on the side (I peeled that one off!!)

Yeah had to get rid of that sticker wouldn't want to be riding around with that on there. someone could see that, your reparation would go right down the tubes or as we say in hotrod land, out the tail pipe.

Yeah Roger, it came out a couple weeks ago that the Toyotas have the most made in country parts. I'm sure all our Ford's and Chevy's have plenty of chinese parts in'em.. I once owned a Harley Sportster and had the gauges off, this was a 1976 model and even then, they were marked as made in China!

So it's nothing new, imho... don't worry about it - just keep the sales receipt in easy reach for the warranty!

That starter sure looks like the Ford Racing A50 'high torque' starter that I'm using. But since I'm only at 302cid, suspect that it will survive for at least a while longer.

Yep Dave, it's the same beast. Summit sells them, too, but the same starter is available at your local parts house, PN 32281 for a '94/95 Mustang GT, 302 Manual tranny. Summit gives a 90 day warranty, but the parts house gives lifetime and the price was $5 cheaper locally not considering shipping.

Those starters would look about a million times better painted black .

Damn sounds like a song title don't it?

Originally Posted by pepi

Those starters would about a million times better painted black .

Damn sounds like a song title don't it?

New one's part black - pic's before sticker was pulled 002.JPG

I like the Cad Plating! The black is boring.. fwiw.. my 2 cents.. 8-)

What I really like is the fact that the new one works about ten times better than the first one I had!!

Added comment - it's amazing how we can listen to something like a starter day by day, not realizing that it's slowly sounding worse by tiny steps, then one day it takes a big step down the slope and we wonder, "What th' heck??"

Originally Posted by rspears

what i really like is the fact that the new one works about ten times better than the first one i had!!

me too! 8-)

Good that definitely looks better and at home in black. Notice how it blends in with the chrome pan, clean looking.

Originally Posted by 34_40

I like the Cad Plating! The black is boring.. fwiw.. my 2 cents.. 8-)

Not only is it cad plated, it's clear coated as well - none of this ho-hum stuff for me (which is probably why there is none of that crusty crud hanging on it - photo is fairly new - couple months)

Originally Posted by IC2

Not only is it cad plated, it's clear coated as well - none of this ho-hum stuff for me (which is probably why there is none of that crusty crud hanging on it - photo is fairly new - couple months)

Did not think of it, but I should have cleared mine before mounting, just for grins. Good idea, Dave.