starter kept going today

[dumbucket1]

When I started my 76 with a 350 today I heard the starter keep turning so I immediately shut the truck off only for the starter to keep turning. Then I turned the key back on and it started back up so I turned the key back off and the starter yet still kept turning.

I hurried up and popped the hood and removed the positive cable from the battery which was very hot by the way. (good thing I was at home and the truck was in the garage).

Ok so I looked at all the wires on the starter and nothing is touching and the wires look good. I cycle the key in the column and it seems to be functioning normally.

So here is the question. Could the starter just be worn out and caused this? I would say the starter is a good 5 years old but it didnt have any weird symptoms. I'm in no big hurry to fix this as I have other vehicles but I hate to know what might have happened if I were not at home and this happened.

[dumbucket1]

also if I try to put the posiive cable back on the battery a big spark jumps

[frogman68]

Sounds like the solenoid is hung open "tap" it with a hammer

[dumbucket1]

Sounds like the solenoid is hung open "tap" it with a hammer

that worked but now it sounds like the starter is catching on the flywheel while running which it has never done before so I guess I will just replace it to be on the safe side.

[choptop]

you probably need a new starter. I went through this on a friends 94 Blazer. We went through 3 starters (reman) and he finally bought a new one, and problem went away.

[Lt.Del]

Sometimes the cause of the sticking solenoid switch is a very low charge.   Throw a good juicy charge on the that joker and you should be good to go.  Now, why the battery power declined is another story.  Alternator? Old battery? connections?

that happened to me when I knew the battery was low (left lights or something on) the went to start it, the starter kept on chugging, no matter the key position. 

[VileZambonie]

You should pull the negative. The starter solenoid is sticking. Just replace the starter.

[Igosplut]

Sometimes the cause of the sticking solenoid switch is a very low charge.   Throw a good juicy charge on the that joker and you should be good to go.  Now, why the battery power declined is another story.  Alternator? Old battery? connections?

that happened to me when I knew the battery was low (left lights or something on) the went to start it, the starter kept on chugging, no matter the key position. 

He's right. a bad or shorted battery can do that.

[dumbucket1]

I took the starter apart and it ended up being the bendix had a broken arm.

[lowbucktruck]

you probably need a new starter. I went through this on a friends 94 Blazer. We went through 3 starters (reman) and he finally bought a new one, and problem went away.

Yup, sounds like a bad starter.  Napa stocks replacement starters for our trucks.  I had to replace mine in my '73 a few years ago, now she starts up on the first crank. (of course, a new battery helped!)