I have a 1987 F150. it had a new starter in it and was working for a bit a year i would say and the truck wouldnt start so i took the starter out and brought it to get checked was told it was bad put a new starter on and starts right up. now the big thing is i bought the truck after the first starter im going by what the owner said. the main question because when i took the old starter out after driving it for awhile to get it home(manual trans push started it) the starter was really hot i was only driving for 30 mins at 40mph stop and go. is the starter saposed to get hot enough till you cant touch it or is something causeing it to over heat im going to list some possibles i think:

restricted water flow
exaust leak
water leak
happened to be a bad reman.
electrical problem
or starter not disengageing (but would make a noise which i didnt hear)

has any one had this problem or delt with it before. i know for sure if i go through another starter something is wrong. thanks for any help at all anything will be apritiated

Thanks Tom

 

I've never had an idea to check starter temp. THe engine running temp is about 190F so most of engine mounted parts have temperature close to this. More of that - starter is located near the exhaust, which is much more hot itself. "can touch this" temperature is usually below 150F.

 

exactly right next to the starter so if i have a leak wich is posible sounds like it it would cause excess heat therefore causeing warm spots in magnect and posibly ruin the bearings. which would make sence im going to see if i can get a sheild for it to protect it from the exaust. thanks

Tom