I recently acquired a 94 GMC K3500 with the 6.5l TD in it. The starter will spin but won't kick forward to engage the flywheel.

I am figuring the starter will need to be replaced.

I will be towing this truck home with a strap and wonder how the brakes will be without the engine running.

On a gasoline vehicle they are iffy, but workable, can I expect the same on this diesel?

I have tried a couple gentle taps on the solenoid with the wooden end of a hammer hoping to get it to engage one more time so I can drive it home, no luck.

Voltage is good on the batteries and the connections are good.

Any info is appreciated.

 

Better to replace the starter where it sits,the trans/transfer case take a beating when being towed without a running engine and the brakes will have no power whatsoever and may be even tougher to push than manual brakes.

 

x2

 

Thanks for the info. I can leave it where it is until October, but I want it at home so I can get it back on the road as quickly as possible.

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Pulled the starter, had it tested and all was well. I probably should have tried to jump it prior to pulling the starter, but I took the PO's word that the batteries were fully charged. I looked at the gauge before I pulled the started and noticed it looked a bit on the low side.

Tomorrow I will clean all the mating surfaces, put the starter back in and give it a shot with my dad's truck giving me a boost.

If I could only find my multimeter.. hmmmmm.

 

Be cautious when boosting,the glow plugs are designed to operate at a voltage where the batteries are pulled down to about 10 volts due to the load of the glow plugs.

If you boost with a running engine putting out 14+ volts it can and does burn out glow plugs,so when cycling the glows make sure the boosting vehicle is not running,or disable the glows prior to boosting.

 

I will not connect the boosting vehicle until the glow plug light has gone out.

Oh By the way - Does it matter which battery I connect the boosting vehicle to?

 

As long as all the battery connections and cables are in good shape it does not matter but I tend to connect to the passenger side battery just because it is closest to the starter.

 

Well, it started up and I drove it home awhile ago. Coolant low light came on made it home (4 to 5 miles) and it only hit about 180 degrees.

Now the fun starts. Thanks for the info no boosting it, and not towing it.

 

Good luck with your project.

 

Looks in nice shape for a 94