Starter Solenoid Sticking

[Scottgenex]

As you see by the title, yes, I believe the solenoid is sticking. I'm more curious as to why. Been reading up online and seems like it could be my issue. Hoping someone can school me so I can learn.

Background: Starter is new as of 2021, not refurbished. Time frame aside, it maybe only has ~50 starts on it as of now. Once during my restoration phase I went to start it and battery cable sparked, popped, and smoked. Then the starter just spun. Not engaging the flywheel. Almost like it was running backwards spinning noise. Assuming the bendix didn't kick out, which was odd cause the wiring was correct, and all new fresh contacts, wire, etc. Yanked the positive to get it to stop. Went to reconnect and it still did it with ignition off. Let it sit overnight and it was all good since then.

Fast forward to today. No issues since that first run in. I was doing some hydroboost maintenance and was starting the engine a couple times every few minutes. Low and behold it happened again. Engine started but could hear the gear running. Ignition off and still spun. Pulled the cable again. Let it sit, reconnect and still happens.

So, I pulled the starter off and took apart the solenoid and looked at the contact disc and such (not sure of official terms). Looks pretty crappy and melted, but I'm no starter specialist. Had a '67 Scout 800 one apart last week that had better looking contacts.

Anyways, am I correct to think the solenoid is welding itself open? Why doesn't the plunger kick the gear out and make crunchy no good noises on the flywheel? Voltage variances? Low quality parts? Voltage was 12.8 at the battery.

Genuinely interested in learning and assuming swapping a new solenoid should solve it?

 

[Edelbrock]

Hmm. Good info and pics. Regardless, I would just order a new stater from Amazon.

 

[Ricko1966]

They usually stick due to high amperage draw,normally from a battery that's low on charge. It's OHMs law, cut the voltage in half doubles the amperage. I know you are not down that low it was just easy math. But make sure your battery and charging system are good. That is the usual fix.

 

[Scottgenex]

The usually stick due to high amperage draw,normally from a battery that's low on charge. It's OHMs law, cut the voltage in half doubles the amperage. I know you are not down that low it was just easy math. But make sure your battery and charging system are good. That is the usual fix.

Now that I think of it, first time it happened I'd been trying to start it a couple times and when it freaked out I let it sit overnight and had the battery on a maintenance charger.

This go around it was the same deal. Did a couple starts and only had a few mins of run time. Probably not enough time to charge the battery back up without assistance. Electrical is not my strongsuit.

Makes sense though. I've never it happen to any other vehicle I own, even doing short runs and multiple starts. So it was bewildering me. Before I order a new starter I might just run a new solenoid and see if the problem returns on a fresh charge.

The rest of the charging system should be solid. All new as of January.

 

[SirRobyn0]

The usually stick due to high amperage draw,normally from a battery that's low on charge. It's OHMs law, cut the voltage in half doubles the amperage. I know you are not down that low it was just easy math. But make sure your battery and charging system are good. That is the usual fix.

I completely agree and was going to say something similar. I actually just had a vehicle in the shop that went though something similar with a battery that just wasn't up to the task anymore.

 

[squaredeal91]

Is this the situation a copper penny would fix it? I remember fixing a Delco starter with a penny years ago and now forget what the symptoms were. My friends grandpa showed us that fix when we were in high school.

 

[CountKrunk]

The usually stick due to high amperage draw,normally from a battery that's low on charge. It's OHMs law, cut the voltage in half doubles the amperage. I know you are not down that low it was just easy math. But make sure your battery and charging system are good. That is the usual fix.

I didn't know this and this is definitely what's wrong with my starter. I have a new alt and battery going in next chance i get. Thanks