ScottieS

I've never had any issues with this before so I'm a complete noob on this topic. This happens when the starter is warm or cold. It also happens only every so often. Here are some really short videos to show you guys exactly what's happening.



Any ideas?

Jamess411

Couldn't get the vids to load…..what is happening?

ScottieS

It's literally just the starter cog hitting the flex plate and backing off when I turn the key. I found I can just turn the cog by hand a bit to move it a bit and then it will mesh with the flex plate when I use the ignition

gkull

You need to shim or unshim the starter to attain about 50% tooth engagement when you kick the sel on

mrvette

On the starter I just did on my staggered bolt '89 truck block 350 engine in the vette....it is a standard rebuilt starter.....they supplied two shims and a allen wrench because it had a 1/8 inch across the flats, hold the wrench between the shaft and the flywheel teeth to check clearance, shim as necessary....

ScottieS

If it needed a shim wouldn't it just never start though?

claysmoker

If the pinion gear teeth happen to be perfectly lined up with the ring gear teeth when you hit the key, they mate just fine and it starts right up. Adding some extra clearance by shimming helps the teeth engage more easily when they aren't lined up just right.