I wrote a bit about this once before, but I think it merits another and more complete post.
Executive summary: If you are going into the hinterlands and are not carrying a spare starter, think about it.
The 10MT starter that the 425 uses is a brute. It is also the only essential small part for which there is no "work around".
The big issue you should be aware of (and I am now) is that they will keep turning a 455 long after they should have packed up and gone home.
I had what I believed was a bad connection to the main engine battery. That is exactly the way it was behaving. Then it stopped. A tap got just one
more crank. When I was a ship's electrician (before licensing), I did a lot with big old DC motors. So, I blocked up the coach enough to get over
the tire and get the starter out. "I can probably make it work again." (He says to hisself). There on the dirt of the fairground. I undid the three
essential fasteners and popped the back plate off. My only option then was to say "Good Lord" and put the plate back on. There was not any mount of
jury rig that was going to make that happen.
This was Sunday afternoon in Evart Michigan (the Dulcimer Festival).
Do you know what Evart Michigan is near??? NOTHING (It is about half way between Midland and Ludingon and as far north of Mt. Pleasant.
I started working the phone. The local parts store is closed on Sunday, the next nearest (40 miles) thought that they could have one Monday. (Mary
had to be back at work by then.) I kept calling in ever widening circles and even the NAPA wearhouse (closer to home that Evart) said that they could
not have one for three days.
There were two on the Black List that could not help, then Don Hart (about 100 miles away) said he could have one off a parts coach and bring it to
me. (This is the community at our side again.) He did, would not even take gas money and stayed by until I got the coach started. I got him a fresh
rebuild with a lifetime warranty.
Ours is unique in the Delco line only for the nose casting. Yes, they can be rebuilt, and I have now done a few. The synopsis of the problem is that
the bushes can wear until they are GONE. When that happens, there is no simple way to recover. At that time, parts have to be replaced.
So, we have a 23' coach with no pod. I carry a starter in the spares locker. The only heavy spare I carry.
Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Executive summary: If you are going into the hinterlands and are not carrying a spare starter, think about it.
The 10MT starter that the 425 uses is a brute. It is also the only essential small part for which there is no "work around".
The big issue you should be aware of (and I am now) is that they will keep turning a 455 long after they should have packed up and gone home.
I had what I believed was a bad connection to the main engine battery. That is exactly the way it was behaving. Then it stopped. A tap got just one
more crank. When I was a ship's electrician (before licensing), I did a lot with big old DC motors. So, I blocked up the coach enough to get over
the tire and get the starter out. "I can probably make it work again." (He says to hisself). There on the dirt of the fairground. I undid the three
essential fasteners and popped the back plate off. My only option then was to say "Good Lord" and put the plate back on. There was not any mount of
jury rig that was going to make that happen.
This was Sunday afternoon in Evart Michigan (the Dulcimer Festival).
Do you know what Evart Michigan is near??? NOTHING (It is about half way between Midland and Ludingon and as far north of Mt. Pleasant.
I started working the phone. The local parts store is closed on Sunday, the next nearest (40 miles) thought that they could have one Monday. (Mary
had to be back at work by then.) I kept calling in ever widening circles and even the NAPA wearhouse (closer to home that Evart) said that they could
not have one for three days.
There were two on the Black List that could not help, then Don Hart (about 100 miles away) said he could have one off a parts coach and bring it to
me. (This is the community at our side again.) He did, would not even take gas money and stayed by until I got the coach started. I got him a fresh
rebuild with a lifetime warranty.
Ours is unique in the Delco line only for the nose casting. Yes, they can be rebuilt, and I have now done a few. The synopsis of the problem is that
the bushes can wear until they are GONE. When that happens, there is no simple way to recover. At that time, parts have to be replaced.
So, we have a 23' coach with no pod. I carry a starter in the spares locker. The only heavy spare I carry.
Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
