Starter problem

[sharp67]

So Im trying to get my engine to start. The Starter is new, the flywheel was new. not sure how many teeth, but the starter is one that will work on either. I have a lakewood steel scatershield/bellhousing. I had my bellhousing centered and pinned to the centerline of the crank. my problem is that the starter will not completely engage the flywheel. It has now chewed off the outermost and foreward most edge of the flywheel teeth. and will only engage occasionaly. More often not. I looked at all the adjustability on the starter and it seems the only way to get it to engage would be to either mill the top of the aluminum mounting block or relocate the center of the boltholes on the mount block. am I missing something here? or is this somtimes happen? am I screwed because my flywheel teeth are now worn a bit? or can I save this without replacing the flywheel? I see if I can take a couple pictures of it.

[Vegas69]

You need to check your flywheel ring gear to starter nose clearance. (.100-.150) And your gear mesh clearance. (approx .040-.060

[sharp67]

pictures

[sharp67]

if those are out of spec how do you adjust?

[sharp67]

how exactly do i make those measurements?

[Vegas69]

Are you using the correct bolt holes? Doesn't look like it's engaging at all. You need feeler gauges or a caliper for the nose clearance and pin gauges for the teeth mesh. If it's to close to the flywheel you need to pul the block off the nose of the starter and use a shim. If you gear mesh is wrong you shim the starter down off the block. Feel free to PM me.

[Vegas69]

[sharp67]

Im using the bolt holes that put the starter the closest to the block

[Vegas69]

You should be able to pull the starter gear out by hand and have it mesh. If it's a 153 tooth you would mount it closest to the block and vice versus with 168. You should be able to figure it out by mounting the starter in the other bolt holes and pulling out the ring gear by hand.

[sharp67]

pictures help me a bit thanks. Ill see what I can do

[sharp67]

pic

[Vegas69]

My guess is that you need to shim it away from the block by quite a bit. Do you have any shims? If not get some from your parts store and shim it down until you can pull out the starter gear by hand and buy some pin gauges like I discussed. I would also file off the rough damaged areas of the starter gear.

[sharp67]

Thanks todd I appreciate the help. Jay

[BlueBull]

I recognize this problem very well. I was close going nuts on this until I bought a new starter and followed the included instruction. I used a wire to secure the distance between the gears, I think it was 0,04".

Before that I consumed 3 gears in less than two months and one flywheel. Now it runs smooth. In my case I add a shim between the starter and block on the outer bolt.

I hope this may help. I'm sure it does.

[megaladon6]

you could also have the problem i have. due to the align hone on the block the flexplate is too far up and you may have to shave down the starter mount.

[Vegas69]

I hate to be a ***** but there is no way that is your problem. If they changed your cranks centerline that much your quench would be way off side to side.

[megaladon6]

well, that's what i was told by one of the members on here. and it's the only thing that makes any sense with my engine.

[sharp67]

So Ive messed with this for 2 days now. Unless I pull my tranny off Im not going to be able to measure the correct way. So I played with shims all day, and Ive just gotte more and more frustrated. So I did measure, on the flywheel tthe tooth valley which is 0.117, and on the staarter the max tooth width is 0.150. My thought is Ive mismatched parts but can this be? If I get 3/4 engagement it is still 0.128 on the starter tooth. I did have the block and new main caps bored and honed so I know the cl of crank is a little diff. but Im thinking my starter / flywheel combo may be my issue. Help. Im at my wits end.

Jay.

[BlueBull]

Buy a new starter. Probably the way to go. Worked for me.

[Vegas69]

Your numbers are off. You need around 50 thousandths pin clearance between your starter and flywheel teeth.