Starter goes click-click when hot

Now I have two engines where the starter goes click when hot, and no start.

If I keep on clicking the engine will finally turn over and start just fine. Sometimes it takes a dozen or so clicks.

The engines are a 521 and a 557; both street engines so they get run an hour or more at a time. Both have C-6 transmissions.

If I replace the battery, the cables, the grounds it doesn't seem to help.

If I replace the starter, it helps. For a week or a month or maybe three months. Then it happens again.

I've used big starters, small starters, gear reduction starters. Same story. I'm now using the F350 small starter on both engines.

Only when the engine is hot. Not when it's cold.

Anyone have this one solved?

BTW, over on Club Cobra there are guys with FEs that seem to have the exact same problem so it isn't only the 385 series.

Anyone solved this one?

Tom

you need a heat shield to keep the heat from the exhaust off the starter you are cooking them from heat it sounds like

69F100,

Heat shield sounds like a great idea! I'll get under there tomorrow and see if there's enough room.

Tom

header wrap works also. Heat from headers is a killer

I also got a reply on the 460 web site that I should add a firewall-mounted solenoid. Some more reading on the web convinced me this may also be a good way to help get rid of the problem, although I can't decide how it works - just that lots of guys say it does help.

So in the interest of getting rid of the problem for good, I plan to try both heat shield if there's room, and the separate solenoid.

As a friend used to say "when you have a problem, you just start throwin' hammers" LOL

Tom