The Exploding Starter
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 814
Likes: 6
From: Murfreesboro, TN
The starter nose exploding is fairly common if there is no brace at the opposite end of the starter. Was the brace there and secure on the starter stud and bolted securely to the block ??? You cannot replace the aluminum nose with a cast iron one--The aluminum nose can only be used with the 153 tooth (small) flywheel and the C.I. nose only works with the 168 tooth (large) flywheel. The bell housings are different too, depending on which flywheel you are running. Why did you have to pull the trans again---I thought the problem was fixed.
RON
Yes the rear bracket was in place and tight. I didn't know that about the CI nose, I'm glad you told me that. As far as the trans goes, the rebuilder has now refunded my money and I'm back to square 1. I plan to get a newly rebuilt from David's 4 Speeds with all new internals and just move on.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 814
Likes: 6
From: Murfreesboro, TN
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 5,399
Likes: 985
From: Itasca IL
This incident underscores the importance of having the front brace in place and the starter mounting bolts torqued to spec. That goodness Mike is detail-oriented and had those bases covered, or else it may have cost him an engine.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
Likes: 1,874
From: Greenville, Indiana
No, I don't think anyone does. I think the original type shims are still available, but I've never taken a starter out and found any shims in place.
This incident underscores the importance of having the front brace in place and the starter mounting bolts torqued to spec. That goodness Mike is detail-oriented and had those bases covered, or else it may have cost him an engine.
This incident underscores the importance of having the front brace in place and the starter mounting bolts torqued to spec. That goodness Mike is detail-oriented and had those bases covered, or else it may have cost him an engine.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,937
Likes: 163
From: OP Kansas
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
The shims are only used if you have a problem with engagement of the starter to the flywheel or flex plate. I've never had to use them since I've worked on cars in the last 40 or so years.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29,063
Likes: 1,839
From: cookeville tennessee
Mike is a great member on here. Just wants to get his car going and looking 100% and will help anyone that would ask from his past doing all the work on his car. Mike great job on pulling that trans out in 45 min,s Now get a starter in that thing and lets get it out on the road...
Robert
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 814
Likes: 6
From: Murfreesboro, TN
Hey Hitch, It's all good bro... I have fixed, restored so much on this car she's starting to be a real good one now. I don't sweat this stuff too much but I do get irritated here and there when stuff breaks last minute. Welcome to old cars right :o)
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 814
Likes: 6
From: Murfreesboro, TN
Mike is a great member on here. Just wants to get his car going and looking 100% and will help anyone that would ask from his past doing all the work on his car. Mike great job on pulling that trans out in 45 min,s Now get a starter in that thing and lets get it out on the road... Robert
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,693
Likes: 3,683
From: Central Arkansas
I think exploding starters is great forum stuff. Beats the heck out of all the "whats your favorite color" and "should I install side pipes" threads.
PS - I would be a little pissed by now too and everybody needs someplace to vent. This beats venting on the wife who usually just rolls her eyes and asks if I would mind taking the garbage out.
Dan
PS - I would be a little pissed by now too and everybody needs someplace to vent. This beats venting on the wife who usually just rolls her eyes and asks if I would mind taking the garbage out.
Dan
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 26
From: Gasburg Virginia
Is the noise he is hearing the drive staying engaged because it is to tight to the ring gear??Drive is held in by centrifical force. When the motor is shut off the starter drive releases on its own. .. I have been a mechanic for 35 years and have seen this happen more than once. When you purchase an after-market starter these shims are included in the box. Dave
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 814
Likes: 6
From: Murfreesboro, TN
Is the noise he is hearing the drive staying engaged because it is to tight to the ring gear??Drive is held in by centrifugal force. When the motor is shut off the starter drive releases on its own. .. I have been a mechanic for 35 years and have seen this happen more than once. When you purchase an after-market starter these shims are included in the box. Dave
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Washington Michigan
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 26,118
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From: Greenville, Indiana
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 814
Likes: 6
From: Murfreesboro, TN
All this has me wondering something. The fact that I have the tranny out of my car makes things easy for me to check the starter and make sure the flywheel and bendix gear have the proper clearance okay. If not I can use a shim till they are perfect. My question is, if a car had the trans and bell housing in place and you wanted to check the fly to gear clearance how would you have access to see that? Would you have to merely remove the tin plate at the bottom of the bell? I ordered a new starter and want to be 100% sure I don’t have those issues again, especially if I did something wrong when I re-mounted my starter.
Thanks guys
Thanks guys
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,317
Likes: 292
From: Ocala FL
Shims are needed frequently with rebuilt starters because the rebuilder often resurfaces the mounting surface to get them flat and true.
Once they do that, they lost .010 or more easily and that throws the gear to flywheel ring gear clearance all off.
If you had odd noises when you were starting, then it was the warning you missed. Often these will egg shape the nose bushing and then eventually bind and not crank.
Without the front bracket, most starters flex enough on the two block mount bolts to survive. But with your front bracket on, all the stress went into your nose piece.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,937
Likes: 163
From: OP Kansas
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
All this has me wondering something. The fact that I have the tranny out of my car makes things easy for me to check the starter and make sure the flywheel and bendix gear have the proper clearance okay. If not I can use a shim till they are perfect. My question is, if a car had the trans and bell housing in place and you wanted to check the fly to gear clearance how would you have access to see that? Would you have to merely remove the tin plate at the bottom of the bell? I ordered a new starter and want to be 100% sure I don’t have those issues again, especially if I did something wrong when I re-mounted my starter.
Thanks guys
Thanks guys