Howdy- first question, HELP!

I need your guy's help!

I have had my 1973 Mercury Comet for almost four years and I keep going through starters like boxes of cereal. I'm on my seventh one because the bearings keep breaking on the inside. Two/three weeks ago my starter went out and I was told to shim it, so I did. Well yesterday, my starter went out again and my dad and I are stumped on what the heck to do.

 

manual or automatic?

 

http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/2010/01/01/hmn_feature27.html

 

from Atlantic Canada!! BTW, what engine and transmission are we talking about??

 

I would not use the advise from someone who told me to shim the starter IMO. Eagle Transmissions in Mesquite TX did that to mine and it messed up my flywheel AND the starter. There are several factors that need to be know in order to begin trying to help figure this out. rthomas771 has posted a good read that will help you identify what your looking at in your hands.

 

from Northeast Pennsylvania

As Paul said - need to know what engine and transmission you have

 

...:Handshake

 

Yes Bluegene is correct, no shims,and keep the starter bolts tight, also clean the threads. Do not cross thread the bell housing. Ford bell housings can be helicoiled, but you might not want to. :16suspect

 

Thanks guys! She's automatic, 250 6cly 4.1

 

Is there any chance that the first time you replaced the starter you got the wrong one and you just keep buying the wrong one over and over?

Double check that what you are buying is correct.

My car had the same engine and trans as yours and the starter lasted 15 years before it finally failed.

Micah

 

from Chetek, WI

 

to the site!!!!!

 

Dad here, We have the correct starter. Have replaced 7 times. Starts great for a while then bearings shatter. Flywheel is good and has been replaced. The reason we shimmed it this time was due to the first 6 times we didn't. Ford didn't use shims but I was told by a 30 year Ford mechanic that they had to shim ford starters many times over the years. Only one shim even available for this car so we gave it a try. Started perfect for about 3 weeks then out again. We did have 1 that lasted for a year prior to this one. Purchased starters from 2 different places and 2 different manuf. Hope this helps a little. I am stumped. Engine needs rebuilt or replaced but wasn't ready for that yet. Just never saw a car go through starters and I have messed with them for 30 years.

 

Where are you getting the starters?

 

The first 5 were auto zone. We were later told NEVER buy auto zone starters. I went back to Smyth Automotive after that (which is where I have always bought my parts for 30 years). 1st starter from there lasted 1 year. Lifetime warranty so I swapped it out. 2nd one lasted 3 weeks.