Help cranking went from slow to nothing to aww crap

[rusty ol' 69']

I'm having some trouble with the old gal. After years of cranking over just fine, I went to crank it over the other day and it went from slow to nothing. So I charged the battery, put it back in same result. So I got a new battery, and while I was at it threw on some new cables. Same result. No clicking in the solenoid or anything to indicate anything is wrong just slow cranking to know cranking. So I take off the the starter take a look at solenoid and the contacts look pretty worn, so I throw on a new one. She fires up and then I get all excited turn it off and go back in the house to wash up and take her for a ride. I'll be damned the problems back and with a new twist!!!!! Smoke starts streaming out the bottom of the starter baaaaaaad. I figure the starters toast, but did I also encounter a small electrical fire and am I headed towards an electrical nightmare, or do ya'll think the motor just fried. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rusty

[Randy70C-10]

So, you put on a new soleniod but left the old starter on?

[kaycee]

You could of got a bad starter even though it is new.I went through 3 starters before I finally got a good 1 and it lasted 3yrs.They were reman. starters I might add.

[cdowns]

first thing is to put on new battery cables positive and negative

[rusty ol' 69']

Rany C-10 yeah that's exactly what I did.

[Catfishking]

Itell ya what to look for, go up under your truck and look to see if the new cable you put on from the battery to the starter is only touching the contact it is supposed to. If it is touching anything else at thecontact on the cable, it will fry your coil and/or points!!!

[Randy70C-10]

What he said. Also, I'd put a new starter in, and it never hurts to change the cables once in a while either.

[breeh]

Just as a note, I went through 3 remanufactured starters too before I got a good one.

[Class of 69]

The starter is toast. It was drawing too many amps to turn and that is what burned the contacts in the old solenoid. You got 1 start out of the new one...it may be toast as well. If there is a local electric motor rebuild shop in town, check if they have rebuilt starters. I never buy the "chain" store rebuilts. If mine is too far gone for me to rebuild, I spend the money for a "Genuine Chevrolet" rebuilt.

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

Try getting a different starter.

[rusty ol' 69']

Thanks for all your responses and CLASS OF 69 we share the same hestation when it comes to "chain store" rebuilds. My pops was an engineer and when his starter went out he got a rebuilt one from a chain. When he put it in the gear would kick out and get stuck so he pissed and farted around with shims without any result, so he took it back to the store and asked to see his old core. They brought it out and he took out his caliper (did I mention he was an engineer) and measured the distance between the inside of the housing and the gear with it engaged and disengaged and found out the new one he had gotten was off by a few thousandths. After going through about 4 of the starters they had in stock he found one that was close. Since then I've been real weary about getting a starter from any "chain" store (they reman. those things in mexico by the way) unless I'm left with no choice. I figure just changing the brushes at this point is not an option, since my conductor is probably shot now. So either I have to find a rebuildable starter at the junkyard, or get a GM one as you mentioned. Do you know where I can pickup a rebuilt GM starter? Should I just call Chevy or will someone online have one.

[71GMC_3/4T]

Starters are heavy. Shipping from an online store will probably kill any price advantage. Your local Chevy garage should have one in stock.

I've never liked rebuilts from the cheap auto parts stores. Had an occasion to pull one apart once, and the internal "new" parts were crap compared to the original starter. Just enough to last about a year, with a LIFETIME guarantee (If you don't mind changing them every year, and don't mind walking several miles once a year!).

[Class of 69]

I agree on the shipping charges for the starter. I fortunately have a business with a legitimate tax ID, so I get a 40 percent discount off list at my local Chev Dealership. If you know someone to buy the part thru their name, it would help a lot on the cost.

[SWINGSAX68]

Dude sounds similar to a problem I had.......Replace the starter with a rebuilt one. LUckily I found a guy who rebuilds them at his place he has a whole set up in his back yard. Took it apart and showed me everything and tested it for me, maybe you'll have the same luck finding someone in your area that will show you his work instead of just selling you one. I payed 25 and left the old one. No problems yet.

[Stocker]

I hear the same stories about chain store rebuilds. I still have the original starter in my '72 (though I did replace the bendix), and when it fails, I'll buy a new GM starter. I think I got my money's worth out of this one!