Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Starter motor loose - proper torque?

[MFalkinham]

Spent the weekend working on my "new" 98 and checking everything over. Tabbed the KDP, cleaned out the radiator and coolers, new coolant hoses all around, new serpentine belt and tensioner pulley, oil change, etc.

While crawling around under the truck, I happened to place my hand on the starter motor and it moved. Turns out it is flopping around like crazy. Thankfully all three bolts are still there, but two of them are half out. It scares me to think that I drove for 7 hours home with it loose after buying the truck. Isn't the starter normally a bear to take off due the torque? I'm not sure how mine became so loose.

Anyhoo, I'm going to buy a 12-point 10mm deep socket tomorrow and tighten it back up. Does anyone know what the proper torque is for the starter bolts?

Thanks!

 

[MAleksandrowicz]

I recently had my starter come loose also. I unfortunatly lost one of the bolts. I bought 3 new ones and put some locktite on them. I didn't torque them but I made sure they were not going to come back out.

 

[Missouri Mule]

I had my my top bolt come loose after installing starter I just tighten it a little bit tighter but here are the torque specs: 32 ft. lbs. .

The bolt on the bottom will be hard to get a troque wrench on.

 

[Ruckuz]

I had my starter loosen itself off as well. Unfortunately... i didnt find out until a friend drove the truck 200 km's to his house, then notice that the housing for the starter was missing a large chunk when she wouldnt start in the morning for him. Thankfully, he found a starter and used the housing off of it.