Starter alignment question?
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,411
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From: Dandridge TN
Starter alignment question?
When I pulled the starter off about 6 months ago to do my body off resto I can't remember if I pulled any shims out or not. Is there someway of testing this before I go to crank the car and mess up the starter ring on my fly wheel?
I feel like a complete idiot sometimes when I forget some of the fine details. :mad Thanks in advance for advice.
I feel like a complete idiot sometimes when I forget some of the fine details. :mad Thanks in advance for advice.
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
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From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Starter alignment question? (Steve Adkins)
Pull the starter gear out and make shure there is some clearance between the starter gear and the flywheel gear. .020 to .050 should do it. Too much is better than too little!
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: No longer a member
Re: Starter alignment question? (Steve Adkins)
Steve,
I recently ran into this same problem. While I had the motor sitting on a bench I installed a mini-starter to check it for clearance, no shims and it was just fine. When I finally got the motor installed I was getting it to TDC just using the starter but noticed the starter gear was sticking on the flexplate.....so I ran down and got some shims. What I wasn't thinking about is that when the motor turns over it gives the starter gear enough momentum to return.....so I shimmed it and made it so the starter gear wasn't getting enough bite. I ended up taking all the shims out. Hope that made some sense.
Once you get the starter on, leave the inspection cover off and watch the flywheel/flexplate for wear on the teeth after you start it once or twice. If it's not getting enough bite you'll hear it, a horrible sound :D
I recently ran into this same problem. While I had the motor sitting on a bench I installed a mini-starter to check it for clearance, no shims and it was just fine. When I finally got the motor installed I was getting it to TDC just using the starter but noticed the starter gear was sticking on the flexplate.....so I ran down and got some shims. What I wasn't thinking about is that when the motor turns over it gives the starter gear enough momentum to return.....so I shimmed it and made it so the starter gear wasn't getting enough bite. I ended up taking all the shims out. Hope that made some sense.
Once you get the starter on, leave the inspection cover off and watch the flywheel/flexplate for wear on the teeth after you start it once or twice. If it's not getting enough bite you'll hear it, a horrible sound :D
