Odd- starter fell off

[blondejoncherokee]

Anyone ever have a starter break an ear, have a bolt back out, and completely fall off ?

the 59 willys (his name is willis the willys) had this happen last night while my non mechanically inclined brother was driving it. I grabbed a new starter and new bolts on my way to work today, but thats odd right? the tabs look weak and tiny.
its a ford 2.8 v6.

 

[NorCalChris]

I've seen it happen before. The bolts come a little loose. Everytime you start it it stresses on the ears, then one day the bolts ( or bolt) either back out all the way, or an ear breaks off.

 

[5-90]

I've seen it.

Which is why I invariably apply LocTite #242 to starter motor mounting screws. Even when properly torqued, they can (and often do) work loose...

 

[blondejoncherokee]

some loctite this time around is a good call thanks for the heads up.

 

[The_Hoove]

We had a 460 ford powering a snow making generator at the ski resort i worked at. Came in one morning to find the generator torn from block, starter laying on the floor....broke the govenor belt and overspead it. Guess thatts not the type of starter falling off you talking about. But at work now, ive lost count how many ford 7.3 starters ive had to replace or tighten bolts on. One was completly out and hanging from the wires.

 

[blondejoncherokee]

put a new starter on a few days ago, new longer bolts, with red lock tight , washers, and lock washers. should be night and day difference. also replaced the accelerator pump , it was leaking gas, and the hard line for the mechanical oil gauge broke a fitting, so swapped that out. darn willys is back to one piece at least until we drive it again.

 

[rysam]

Just happened to me 2 weeks ago on my xj. only about 3 threads of the one bolt left holding it in. Oops. I hit ace hardware for a new bolt, lockwashers and some loctite and off I went.

 

[5-90]

put a new starter on a few days ago, new longer bolts, with red lock tight , washers, and lock washers. should be night and day difference. also replaced the accelerator pump , it was leaking gas, and the hard line for the mechanical oil gauge broke a fitting, so swapped that out. darn willys is back to one piece at least until we drive it again.

The red stuff (#262?) is a bit much - I don't use it very often. I typically use either #222 (low strength purple, for screws 1/4" or 6m/m and under nominal diameter) or #242 (medium strength blue, screws over 1/4" or 6m/m diameter) and that's just fine.

Yes, even on starter motor screws. Works well on rocker arms screws as well (valve cover screws usually get RTV on the threads - easier to tighten them and have them hold, because you don't have to back them out and reapply the stuff. Ditto oil sump screws.)