Having trouble removing starter from engine

[fordyvonfordster]

HI!!! So im trying to replace a bad starter and I removed the two bolts that connect the starter to the engine. I also removed the wire that runs from the starter to the battery. Now I cant seem to get the starter to come out. Im new to this and I dont have much experience but i feel like this should be alot easier to remove then it is. Ive tried for hours to yank and pull the darn thing out put to no avail. Is there a trick im missing or possibly a bolt that I didnt remove? Any help would be amazing. BTW my truck is a 1968 F-100.

[BobbyFord]

What motor?
360/390's have three bolts attaching the starter.

[fordyvonfordster]

its a 240.

[BobbyFord]

Pretty sure a 240 has a two bolt starter. I've seen starters get hung up in the motor plate. Have you tried hitting the end of the starter sideways with a rubber mallet?

[fordyvonfordster]

yea it seems hung up on something. I know i took the right bolts out. No i just pulled andtryedto wiggle it out. i thought about hitting it with a mallet but i wasnt sure if that was a good idea. Didnt want to damage anything in the motor. but Ill give it a try tomorrow. so in theory the starter should just slide right out correct?

[BobbyFord]

Yes but like I said, I've seen starters get stuck in the block plate before. You should be safe with a rubber mallet. If you're positive the bolts are out you might try to persuade it sideways with a pry bar.

[Madman]

Bobby is right on in his idea. A mallet or dead blow hammer should be fine......hitting things usually is a tactic of poor mechanics, but some times a small rap to it will break up potential corrosion/gunk fouling which may lock it in place. We are talking about bashing the thing off....

Does it wiggle or move at all? Have you tried a small pry bar to get a wiggle on it?

[fordyvonfordster]

It wiggles a tiny bit. But as i wiggle it its also moving the metal that covers up the fly wheel . Likes its attached to that metal cover. No i didnt try a pry bar or hitting it. I was scared to mess anything up. Im about to go outside and try it again though.

[BobbyFord]

That metal plate is the block plate. The starter is just snug in block plate. Just pop it out of there, rubber mallet or pry bar will do it.

[sargentrs]

If you have a strap wrench, or some way to grab it, try twisting it back and forth.

[BobbyFord]

Maybe he's still out there

[fordyvonfordster]

Ugh. Trying all day to budge it with a mallet. Its the original starter. Maybe its rusted in there. Wd-50 or something like that?

[sargentrs]

Does the starter work? You might try hooking the wire back up and just bumping the key to get the bendix to engage for a second. Those things have tons of torque and it may be enough to give it a little twist and break the crud loose. Be careful though! That sucker might just JUMP out.

[Madman]

Does the starter work? You might try hooking the wire back up and just bumping the key to get the bendix to engage for a second. Those things have tons of torque and it may be enough to give it a little twist and break the crud loose. Be careful though! That sucker might just JUMP out.

Especially the be careful part, but it may unbind the sucker...you can try wd-40 as well, just wipe up the excessive amount when you are done

[BobbyFord]

Lotta room in an engine bay with a six in it. I'd have already mashed it outta there a long time ago. Nothing in the engine bay is porcelain, pry it out.