Upper Starter Mounting Bolt…Whew man.

[keithb7]

45 mins to get the upper starter mounting bolt back in and tightened.  237 ci 25” engine with foot starter lever. I love the simplicity of the foot lever but getting a 5/8 wrench and your hand down in there? Oh boy…
 

I’ve done this 4x in the past few years. It doesn’t seem to get any easier. Worked myself into a sweaty contortion artist.
 

 It’s all good, done.  I’m just here looking for sympathy. Lol. Anyone have a trick for this task? 
 

Edited May 28 by keithb7

[Plymouthy Adams]

well, maybe always carry the wife so she can push start the truck.....other than that man you do what you have to do....😄

[Merle Coggins]

Half moon wrenched help in that situation. 

[Plymouthy Adams]

the special starter wrench Merle mentions is the go to for many starter applications....I guess I have owned mine for over 50 years.  The shorter combo universal and sockets are shorter than using a socket with an universal and may be of benefit in many applications with some extensions involved in the process.   

[DonaldSmith]

Simple starter installation:

 

Step 1.  Remove engine.

Step 2.  Install starter. 

Step 3.  Reinstall engine. 

 

Am I missing some steps?

[Plymouthy Adams]

3 minutes ago, DonaldSmith said:

Simple starter installation:

 

Step 1.  Remove engine.

Step 2.  Install starter. 

Step 3.  Reinstall engine. 

 

Am I missing some steps?

you forgot to raise the hood and set the wheel chocks.

[Los_Control]

I removed a starter one time .... boy was it miserable.

With my current truck, even with the front end stripped down to the engine sitting in the frame .... I thought about removing the starter just to clean and paint it.

Even then I decided against it as long as it is working fine .... I'm leaving it alone. The 1/2 moon wrench does help .... I made a few turns on the top bolt to check it out .... still no cake walk.

[JBNeal]

additional information - starter wrench

[kencombs]

Maybe someone should cut up a ratcheting box end wrench and weld back up in the shape of one of the old starter wrenches.   I have one of the old ones, somewhere, haven't seen it in years.

[Young Ed]

9 minutes ago, kencombs said:

Maybe someone should cut up a ratcheting box end wrench and weld back up in the shape of one of the old starter wrenches.   I have one of the old ones, somewhere, haven't seen it in years.

GEARWRENCH 5 Pc. 12 Pt. Reversible Half Moon Double Box Ratcheting Wrench Set, Metric - 9850 https://a.co/d/cybVRbM

 

 

[keithb7]

Something like this in the correct size. I think mine was  a ⅝” bolt head. 
 

[Los_Control]

I think that would be ideal keith ..... My experience with a non ratcheting starter wrench, they work but still only getting 1/4"-3/4" turns at a time .... working but going to take some time.

 

Ratcheting wrench would speed it up.

[Bingster]

I've had mine in and out twice (that doesn't sound right) I hurt my back leaning over the left front fender to get it down into position. I built a wooden cradle on a 2 X 4 coming up from the ground into the engine compartment that set the starter at the same height to line up the bolt holes. It was a bitch, no question, but it worked. But then I still had to crawl underneath the car to tighten that second bolt. It was just hell. I'm having to put it back in after having it repaired. I think I'll call a neighbor who farms who is much better built than I am.

[Sniper]

Any reason you couldn't use a stud there? 

[sidevalvepete]

My smart arse answer is to have a right hand drive car. Steering column is out of the way and they have the push button starter, not the pedal job...

However, those rachet gearwrenches look the best bet. I have only ever removed the starter from a removed engine or one where the body has been removed first.

 

[kencombs]

17 hours ago, Young Ed said:

GEARWRENCH 5 Pc. 12 Pt. Reversible Half Moon Double Box Ratcheting Wrench Set, Metric - 9850 https://a.co/d/cybVRbM

 

 

Proud of that set they are!  In my Yoda voice.

[Young Ed]

2 hours ago, kencombs said:

Proud of that set they are!  In my Yoda voice.

And the SAE is slightly more $ yet! I didn't shop around though so there might be cheaper options 

[Sam Buchanan]

1 hour ago, Young Ed said:

And the SAE is slightly more $ yet! I didn't shop around though so there might be cheaper options 

 

The cheaper option might be a custom wrench made from a cheapie wrench with the assistance of an acetylene torch??

[Bingster]

I went to antique shops and bought every kind of wrench that looked like it might work: John Deere, Ford, etc. very cheap, and I think one of them helped at least helped out.  The Deere and Ford wrenches were specialized for particular cars and therefore were different shapes.

[bones44]

Should have replaced it with a 12 point bolt.

[kencombs]

35 minutes ago, bones44 said:

Should have replaced it with a 12 point bolt.

Yep,  I mess with old garden tractors too and on the old Case and Ingersolls the hydraulic motor is attached with 1/2"/13 threaded bolts with 1/2" 12pt heads.   Perfect for starter bolts.

[p15-1948]

Those ratcheting heads are bigger, wonder if there is enough room to get it on the bolt?  Just getting the bolt started is tough for me. 

 

[SteveR]

I have had to remove my starter twice. I was fortunate. Someone cut a slot in that bolt and I was able to remove it with a Big screwdriver.

[keithb7]

I think you are right @p15-1948 the larger ratchet head won’t fit down around the curvature of the cast starter nose come. 
 

There is a bright side to all the cussing and fighting with said starter bolt.  It builds character, confidence and experience in us. Also removing the starter was a lot easier than replacing the engine rear crank seal and oil pan gasket.  You’ll learn why and more details on that in my next upcoming You Tube video. Coming soon. 

[Sniper]

37 minutes ago, keithb7 said:

It builds character, confidence and experience in us.

 

If my starter ever needs replaced I will have my son do it.  He needs the character, lol.