starter problems on '89 4x4/5-speed
 

Just found this site! Hope someone out there can help! My friend purchased this '89 Ranger,simply because he liked his other '89 so well. Only thing different was this "new" truck is a 4x4. The first thing we NEEDED to do was change-out the clutch. After the third clutch replacement in 3-weeks,we finally had a parts "man" that KNEW that the nos clutches were junk,so he GAVE us the up-grade at no extra charge!! COOL!! Now for the BIG QUESTION: this thing was BEAT by the drilling company that owned this truck. The engine was replaced at some point,and we're not sure exactly what year engine is in this thing,but we KNOW it's a 3.0. The engine runs STRONG,but the problem is...you can't keep a starter in it for more than a week (average of 20-25 starts),before you hear that god-awful gnashing gears sound,then after a few more starts,..whirrr...the shaft usually breaks off the starter drive gear! I'm glad he bought a "Lifetime" starter,but after replacing at least 15 of these in the last 5 years,(truck sits for months on end),I was hoping that maybe somebody has a simple?? solution for this dilemma. Any suggestions/ideas are greatly appreciated! Thanks,in advance!!