starter dead?

[75_chevy]

1975 c10 350/350 won't start. with 12 volts from the bat when you crank it nothing happens and some times when you turn the key you just hear that ticking like quick ticking. I hit the starter with a hammer and tried to start nothing changed I put a test lead on that 3/8" nut on the solenoid and it has power.
do you guys know about that piece of metal that goes around the cables to keep the heat away from the wires from the exhaust manifold? well when that rubbed against the header it started sparking, could my problem be a shorted cable that melted from the header heat? any tip on how to find it? thanks everyone I appreciate the help. I found some threads on starter problems but I didn't see any that mentioned the sparking wire cover


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[rich weyand]

Battery cables are good for about ten years.  Then they rub through the insulation, or corrode internally, etc.

Sounds like first step is to change both the + and - battery cables.

[75_chevy]

Rich I had seen you post that in one of the other dead starter threads, I will do that when I get the money but right now I am very limited on cash.


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[75_chevy]

and since the cable is shorting at the starter I believe this may be something I can fix with cable laying in the garage vs buy new 2 gauge wire. speaking of.. what wire do you use? I was going to get 2 gauge by the foot from Home Depot but moroso sells some 2 gauge on summit in blue.. wondering if the quality would be the same


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[75_chevy]

also thank you for the quick response I need to get back running by the end of the day so I can make it to work tomorrow


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[rich weyand]

Well, you need to replace the + cable, or you could start the dang thing on fire, and that wouldn't be cheap.

Don't worry about the ultimate solution, and #2AWG wire and all that.  Just get a pos starter cable cheap and replace it.  Advance has a battery cable that fits for $15.  NAPA has one that fits for $12. (MPB 781143)  Either will work fine.

[75_chevy]

ok thanks rich. will do. check this out also.. I pulled the header so I can get to/see everything and there is a frayed wire right behind the metal shield



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[75_chevy]

dug a lil deeper


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[rich weyand]

40 years of vibration on the edge of the heat shield will do that.

That looks like the fusible link wire.  Is that coming off the hot connection on the starter?

[rich weyand]

If that's the cause of your arcing, you may not need the battery cable.  The way to check the battery cable (either one) is to connect a voltmeter to the two ends of the cable, and try to start the engine.  If the voltmeter shows more than a volt drop in the cable, the cable is definitely shot.  Check both battery cables.

[75_chevy]

I blew a fuse re hooking up the battery. where is the fuse I just blew up???


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[75_chevy]

ok I hooked a test light up directly to the battery and got nothing could I have just discharged the battery??


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[75_chevy]

sorry had a bad ground.. back to original question


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[VileZambonie]

You have fusible links located at the junction box and starter solenoid. http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=11972.0

[75_chevy]

thank you for the reply Vila but I have a much larger problem now. I tightened the ground on the terminal and now I have power but I soon as i got power the starter starting ticking like I was trying to start it.. if I connect the battery the truck tries to start up


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