ratdude747 Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Blew my PMGR starter today (and had to have it towed home ). Current unit is an OE unit off a 1993. I was going to look at DB but I recall there being issues with them recently. Are they still good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 I think you are referring to John/Machspeed's problems with a DB alternator. But I don't remember anyone having problems with one of their starters. So that's where I'd turn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdude747 Posted February 3, 2023 Author Share Posted February 3, 2023 I think you are referring to John/Machspeed's problems with a DB alternator. But I don't remember anyone having problems with one of their starters. So that's where I'd turn. Ah. $70 shipped over there... done. Although I did have to cross reference RA as DB doesn't mark which starter is manual and which is auto. For future reference, auto is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/new-ford-bronco-4-9l-5-0l-5-8l-starter-92-93-94-95-96.html Manual is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/ford-f-truck-bronco-4-9l-300-6cyl-new-starter-1965-1996-3223-410-14033.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Ah. $70 shipped over there... done. Although I did have to cross reference RA as DB doesn't mark which starter is manual and which is auto. For future reference, auto is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/new-ford-bronco-4-9l-5-0l-5-8l-starter-92-93-94-95-96.html Manual is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/ford-f-truck-bronco-4-9l-300-6cyl-new-starter-1965-1996-3223-410-14033.html Thanks. How long does the shipping take? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machspeed Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 Ah. $70 shipped over there... done. Although I did have to cross reference RA as DB doesn't mark which starter is manual and which is auto. For future reference, auto is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/new-ford-bronco-4-9l-5-0l-5-8l-starter-92-93-94-95-96.html Manual is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/ford-f-truck-bronco-4-9l-300-6cyl-new-starter-1965-1996-3223-410-14033.html Frankly, I don't think I'd even mess with DB, not necesarily because it's garbage but because of warranty hassles. It cost me a little more, but I got my starter from AZ with a life time warranty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85pig Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Frankly, I don't think I'd even mess with DB, not necesarily because it's garbage but because of warranty hassles. It cost me a little more, but I got my starter from AZ with a life time warranty. I've bought a couple of the DBs through Amazon, in their "open box/damaged" category. Saved about $15 to $20 both times, and have had excellent luck with them. Haven't had any failures, and the starters have been pristine. I have no problem saving money due to a beat-up box I'm going to trash anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMUBullnose Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 I've bought a couple of the DBs through Amazon, in their "open box/damaged" category. Saved about $15 to $20 both times, and have had excellent luck with them. Haven't had any failures, and the starters have been pristine. I have no problem saving money due to a beat-up box I'm going to trash anyway. Put one of the DB PMGR starters in my '84 a few months ago. Never going back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85lebaront2 Posted February 4, 2023 Share Posted February 4, 2023 Ah. $70 shipped over there... done. Although I did have to cross reference RA as DB doesn't mark which starter is manual and which is auto. For future reference, auto is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/new-ford-bronco-4-9l-5-0l-5-8l-starter-92-93-94-95-96.html Manual is this one: https://www.dbelectrical.com/products/ford-f-truck-bronco-4-9l-300-6cyl-new-starter-1965-1996-3223-410-14033.html What I was telling people with 4.9L, 5.0L and 351W engines with automatics, use a 1990 Lincoln Town Car for reference, it is a 5.0L automatic. Some of us have been way ahead of the curve on these. When the one on Darth died, I just went to Pasco here in Exmore and got one for a late 460 auto, in stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratdude747 Posted February 9, 2023 Author Share Posted February 9, 2023 Frankly, I don't think I'd even mess with DB, not necesarily because it's garbage but because of warranty hassles. It cost me a little more, but I got my starter from AZ with a life time warranty. Well, we may have a warranty issue here. Stupid thing won't quite fit. First, from all views it appears to be an automatic starter. Compared to the "old" one: Both mounting bosses are 4.08" diameter... On another site I read that manuals were 4.10" (or something similar) while auto's are 4.08". Anyway, the issue is that with the bolts lined up, the starter is hitting something with 1/8"-3/16" of gap. I can make the starter go all the way in, but I can't rotate in the boss/bore to line up (I hit something about 1 bolt hole's width away. Feels like I'm hitting the ribs in the bellhousing: Looks like I get to return it... as I'm not about to mod the starter (and void the warranty) or my bellhousing. I also did a teardown on the old starter and found the issue: Commutator is burnt to a crisp. Not just packed with carbon... there's grooves in the copper and from the looks of things at least one contact has a split in it. Nothing that a set of brushes and a solenoid will (adequately) fix. Not to mention the bendix/planetary drive were dry as a desert and a bit crunchy... Unless I'm missing something, looks like I'm ordering another starter from somewhere... and mark this as another DB horror story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted February 9, 2023 Share Posted February 9, 2023 Well, we may have a warranty issue here. Stupid thing won't quite fit. First, from all views it appears to be an automatic starter. Compared to the "old" one: Both mounting bosses are 4.08" diameter... On another site I read that manuals were 4.10" (or something similar) while auto's are 4.08". Anyway, the issue is that with the bolts lined up, the starter is hitting something with 1/8"-3/16" of gap. I can make the starter go all the way in, but I can't rotate in the boss/bore to line up (I hit something about 1 bolt hole's width away. Feels like I'm hitting the ribs in the bellhousing: Looks like I get to return it... as I'm not about to mod the starter (and void the warranty) or my bellhousing. I also did a teardown on the old starter and found the issue: Commutator is burnt to a crisp. Not just packed with carbon... there's grooves in the copper and from the looks of things at least one contact has a split in it. Nothing that a set of brushes and a solenoid will (adequately) fix. Not to mention the bendix/planetary drive were dry as a desert and a bit crunchy... Unless I'm missing something, looks like I'm ordering another starter from somewhere... and mark this as another DB horror story. I feel badly as I'm the one that said DB. But it looks like there's a problem with that one. Can you return it? If so I think I'd go to the local parts store and buy a PMGR starter. If it fits and works I'd return the DB and tell them it wouldn't fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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