Mini starter sound?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 113
From: Michigan
Mini starter sound?
Stupid question, are mini starters supose to whine and sound different than a gm starter?
I've shimmed to just a paper clip fitting and to excess of about half inch of shims. It still whines and the gear won't disengage. I've check wiring and used knurled bolts and spaced the body back even tho it had more than the needed clearance.
I've not started the car only tested it because to install the starter I had to drop my y-pipe and pull a header. I just want to make sure it's right before I put the car back together. And I don't rem hearing any other cars sound like a bad rearend gear when starting.
To be clear this isn't that shreiking noise when the gear hits the flywheel/flexplate. It's a gear whine.
I've shimmed to just a paper clip fitting and to excess of about half inch of shims. It still whines and the gear won't disengage. I've check wiring and used knurled bolts and spaced the body back even tho it had more than the needed clearance.
I've not started the car only tested it because to install the starter I had to drop my y-pipe and pull a header. I just want to make sure it's right before I put the car back together. And I don't rem hearing any other cars sound like a bad rearend gear when starting.
To be clear this isn't that shreiking noise when the gear hits the flywheel/flexplate. It's a gear whine.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 672
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake Virginia
it's hard to tell without hearing it but they do tend to whine a little, remember, they have much smaller motors so they are geared differently so they have the torque to turn the motor, and depending on what brand you have, some of them have to turn ALOT of displacement and compression. there are also alot of starters that depend on the motor firing to "kick" the bendix out of the flywheel once it fires.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 113
From: Michigan
Good to know on the gear sticking, I wouldn't of noticed it sticking but the starter sounded funny and I checked it. I am pretty sure I've herd mini starters before and don't rem hearing any gear whine.
Well I guess I'll take the other mini starter off my other car that I was building and try that ones and see if it sounds the same. I just bolted that one on and never even tested it yet. It's a better brand 7lb starter and the noisey one is a cheap ebay 10lb. Prob the smart play anyway, just incase the ebay one gives me problems it should be on the car that is easier to install a new starter.
Well I guess I'll take the other mini starter off my other car that I was building and try that ones and see if it sounds the same. I just bolted that one on and never even tested it yet. It's a better brand 7lb starter and the noisey one is a cheap ebay 10lb. Prob the smart play anyway, just incase the ebay one gives me problems it should be on the car that is easier to install a new starter.
Last edited by BOOT77; Aug 17, 2013 at 04:33 PM. Reason: dirrrrrrr
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 408
Likes: 1
From: Ormond Beach Florida
I have just finished installing a SDR0031-LK from DB Electrical ($54.93) with no shims and it is working great! A little bit higher pitched (not real noticeable unless you are looking for it) and it turns over a few more reps before start, but very pleased. Does not have the aluminum mounting block like most (resembles the stock configuration (so you got to take off the flywheel cover to check if pinion gear is matching) and it can not be clocked, so if the solonoid position must be changed for any reason (different headers and pipes), then this will not work. I have been using the car as a DD since installation and she starts up every time. 
NEW Chevy 305 350 454 Mini Racing PMGR Starter HT SDR0031-L
Price: $55.23
NEW Chevy 305 350 454 Mini Racing PMGR Starter HT SDR0031-L
Price: $55.23
Last edited by scorpion18z; Aug 18, 2013 at 11:51 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 113
From: Michigan
Well I installed my drag car starter and it still sounds kinda whiny but it not as loud or as high pich and it turns over faster. Also the clearance is much better and I should be able to remove the 7lb without taking the y-pipe or header off and that is the better starter for my exhaust right now. I had to clock the ebay one to the same as the stock size and it barley cleared the header and then the positive cable was so close to the block I had to tape it up. Even the stock type starter the positive cable had to be perfect. I am glad I took the starter off my other car and will be buying another to replace it.
Left to right: Standard size 20lbs, ebay mini 10lbs, hitachi mini 7lbs
Left to right: Standard size 20lbs, ebay mini 10lbs, hitachi mini 7lbs
