Late last week I hear a noise very much like my starter bolts are backing off while starting the truck. Figure I will address when I get home. So rains on Saturday and misty and wet on Sunday. So I figure I will go back to SC on Monday morning and address it there. 

 I get to work and when it warms up some I go out there in parking lot with laborer and look under the truck and laying on the asphalt is a piece of the spacer and one of the bolts. Still cant believe those pieces hung on untill I parked. Anyway thw spacer is toast and I need a new. Used the parts look up tool, thanks @Me78569, get the part # and google it. Found many sources for the oe spacer. The cheapest I can find it is about $150. I did not paythat much for the starter. They also wanted $9 apiece for the bolts. F'ing unbelievable.

 So I googled "starter motor spacer 02 ram 2500. To happiness multiple folks offering them from $55 to $70 with three new bolts. I bought these for $60 in aluminun, billett as they say.

So I thightened the bolts with pieces of the spacer to get by for acouple more days and the 3 or four times I had to go somewhere I parked on a hill.

 The spacer arrives today and me a laborer go out to install it. First thing I see is one of the ears on the starter for the bolt to go thru has broken, a little over half of it still there. To late to getma starter and get it on so I decided to just put this one back on for now. Got it off replaced the spacer and gotmthe 2 bottom bolts on and was having a very difficult time getting the top bolt to start. F'ed around with it for 30 minutes, no success. Backed the other 2 bolts and low and behold the top bolt is broken off in the hole. The suns going down and I am SOL. Tightened the other two bolts and I guess a parking on a hill untill I can get and drill the bolt out. Sure looks like a lot of fun.

 So I now have a big   on my forehead. Thought I was safe but man was I wrong.

I'm sorry about your trouble Dave. Sometimes life gives us a task that never goes easy. Are you far from home or have a decent spot to work on it?

 

My garage has a lot in the way, not too bad though and when its raining I put up the picnic canopy because you can adjust the legs down to keep the rain off you. I will use a newr tarp to keep dry underneath

Edited January 17, 20196 yr by JAG1

Sorry about your trouble. Seems when it rains it pours. Just a thought.... did you check the member map to see if someone in the area where your'e working has a shop you could use maybe one night after work? Nothing's worse than laying outside on your back when it's cold  and have limited tools along.

My garage is still a figment of my imagination. And my picnic canopy became a casulty of a t'storm. So I am lacking the dry side. Might have change that this weekend. Last thing I need to see is the starter hanging off the cable. That would suck even more.

7 minutes ago, dave110 said:

Sorry about your trouble. Seems when it rains it pours. Just a thought.... did you check the member map to see if someone in the area where your'e working has a shop you could use maybe one night after work? Nothing's worse than laying outside on your back when it's cold  and have limited tools along.

No cant say that I did. I had all the tools for a starter replacement. By the time I saw the bolt broken off it was near sundown. Drilling the bolt out put a different light  on the subject. Thinking its going to be better to do it at the house even if I have to buy a canopy. The weather might be damp but the temp should be okay. 

Wow lots of Dave's.  I'm one too!

 

Where ya working at drip?  I live in York SC and can use my shop at work in Rock Hill for anything needed.  

 

We have a full machine shop and I am a welding guru.

 

I have been running my starter with a broken ear for about 4 years.  One of the bottom ears is broken but the flange bolt still grabs about 50% of it.  

 

If you have the broken ear I can weld it back on

 

Dave

Welcome Dave!

I hope that broken ears isn't a Dave thing. I need my ears 

Sometime it like a certain job tells you to just start with square one and get everything set right from the beginning. When everything is all ready including the place your working then everything goes real good from then on.

25 minutes ago, Manimalmother said:

Wow lots of Dave's.  I'm one too!

 

Where ya working at drip?  I live in York SC and can use my shop at work in Rock Hill for anything needed.  

 

We have a full machine shop and I am a welding guru.

 

I have been running my starter with a broken ear for about 4 years.  One of the bottom ears is broken but the flange bolt still grabs about 50% of it.  

 

If you have the broken ear I can weld it back on

 

Dave

I am actually in Lexington SC headed back to Hickory NC hopefully Friday morning. I drive right thru Rock Hill up 77. Your offer intrigues me. I do believe I saved the ear. Found it laying on the ground under the truck today. It is one of the bolt ears that broke off. The top one is the one that broke off. Got some easy outs?

I do have some easy outs but they are harbor freight specials.  

 

Our shop is about 5 miles off of 77.

 

I also have a bunch of left handed drill bits.  Might be able to get it out with those.  Considering that it didn't break from being over tightened, it broke from being levered on it shouldn't be galled.  Should come right out .

 

Dave

Awesome to hear members helping members. Remember there is the Member Map feature you can update your location using your cell phone to give an exact pinpoint location for rescue work. 

 

https://mopar1973man.com/membermap/

11 hours ago, dripley said:

My garage is still a figment of my imagination. And my picnic canopy became a casulty of a t'storm. So I am lacking the dry side. Might have change that this weekend. Last thing I need to see is the starter hanging off the cable. That would suck even more.

No cant say that I did. I had all the tools for a starter replacement. By the time I saw the bolt broken off it was near sundown. Drilling the bolt out put a different light  on the subject. Thinking its going to be better to do it at the house even if I have to buy a canopy. The weather might be damp but the temp should be okay. 

Before you retire are you going to build a shop or garage? 

3 minutes ago, JAG1 said:

Before you retire are you going to build a shop or garage? 

 

@dripley For all the service you given to WH Bass they should build you an awesome garage with all the tools and two post lift.

20 minutes ago, JAG1 said:

Before you retire are you going to build a shop or garage? 

Along about the same. Probably start with a carport and close it up later. I have most of framing material calling my name.

 

16 minutes ago, Mopar1973Man said:

 

@dripley For all the service you given to WH Bass they should build you an awesome garage with all the tools and two post lift.

Wouldn't that be nice. The framing material is left overs from different jobs so they are contributing.

Edited January 17, 20196 yr by dripley

In oregon you have to have 6x6 pt support posts 4 feet in the ground or sheeted walls for lateral. Some posts so tall call for using 6x10 posts.

I have 6x6 treated posts I planned to sink 3 feet in the ground. 2 x 12 treated to use for beams doubled up maybe tripled. My spans for now are only 14' max. I also have 3x6's for ceiling joist and 2x6's for rafters. I have enough for the back half and part of front so it might be a 2 stage build. But the first half is enough to get me in the dry. That would be a blessing in its self.

It used to be Oregon allowed poles down 21/2 foot back in the 80's. Sounds like you got good stock for doing it.

20 hours ago, Manimalmother said:

Wow lots of Dave's.  I'm one too!

 

Where ya working at drip?  I live in York SC and can use my shop at work in Rock Hill for anything needed.  

 

We have a full machine shop and I am a welding guru.

 

I have been running my starter with a broken ear for about 4 years.  One of the bottom ears is broken but the flange bolt still grabs about 50% of it.  

 

If you have the broken ear I can weld it back on

 

Dave

Cant tell you how much I appreciate this offer. What time frame could we do this if I can get by? I would not be driving thru until the 1 to 2 oclock range Friday. I have all day Saturday or Sunday. Do you machine cylinder heads at your shop? I am in need of having that work done in the near future, weepy head gasket.

Unfortunately we're not a mechanics shop.  We design and manufacture custom robotic welding equipment for the nuclear/shipbuilding/petrochemical industries.  We are a small company less than 10 people so we all have full use of the shop for side projects.

 

I actually have a drs appt tomorrow at 1:30 for a damn kidney stone but I will be available anytime before that or after 3.  Saturday is the wife's birthday and Sunday is my wife's baby shower.  

 

If you can get there before 1 you can go ahead and pull it in the bay and get started on it.  I shouldn't be too long at the doc.

 

Dave

You sound as busy as me. I will see what I can work out on my schedule tomorrow.

 

From your shops decription maybe we can build a nuclear powered Cummins!!!!

Well got off to late to go by @Manimalmother's shop Friday. Did manage to get ip with my son go to his employer's shop.

 I tried too attack from the top. Removed the bell crank, intake horn and fuel filter canister. Had a wide open view of the bolt hole just could not get a straight angle for the drill. A small air drill might have worked but we did not have one. So I pulled the starter and went in from underneath while my son helped fron the top to line up the drill better. Almost dead centered that sucker. Drilled it, stuck an easy out in it and out she came.

 The new bolts have much wider flanges on them compared to the OE ones and clamped down on the broken eared one well enough to hold so we are going to roll the dice a little for now. The bolts also got a nice stripe of lock tite this time. 

 

 

 

Another big thanks to @Manimalmother for his offer of space and help.