gear reduction starters
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
gear reduction starters
anybody have any experience or opinions about gear reductions starters. Mean Green sells a 4.4 to 1 starter that they "claim" solves all hot start problems. my 79 starts fine when cold but really "bogs down" on restarts after running up to operating temperature. heat soak from headers. put in a starter relay which helped a little. heat sheilds seem to have no effect. would appreciate hearing from anyone who has used one of these starters.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville Tennessee
I believe that gear reduction starters became well know when Chrysler started building the hemi. They couldn't get them started with regular starters so they started using gear reduction starters with terrific results. They are great starters and if and when mine dies on my 79 it will be replaced with a gear reduction unit!
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
IF I could pick up one cheap enough, I may change over to one of them for the weight savings....maybe....depends....
the hot start problems are associated with.....bad wiring...little else....
UNLESS of course you have a 600f++ header withing an inch or so of the starter, then you are damn near melting the insulation of the thing....use 1/2 a brain and move the freaking header....
all else is bad wiring, like I said....
GENE
the hot start problems are associated with.....bad wiring...little else....
UNLESS of course you have a 600f++ header withing an inch or so of the starter, then you are damn near melting the insulation of the thing....use 1/2 a brain and move the freaking header....
all else is bad wiring, like I said....
GENE
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I have a GM starter that is used in most of the newer cars. It comes on most of the truck motors and most of the newer cars. It has turned my car over fine for 2 years hot or cold. Very small and light weight. I bought mine new but I'll bet you could pull a good one out of a bone yard far cheaper than the other gear reduction starters. GM uses this one on the big blocks also. i am running headers on mine. With the stock starter it was close to the selonoid now it is quite far away and I never have heat soak. You can't just move the header, get a smaller starter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
I have a powermaster Xs mini-------so far so good, but I never had a hot starting problem before. The main attraction for me was a pretty substantial weight savings and a cleaner, tighter fit. 
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,923
Likes: 733
From: Youngstown Ohio
Originally Posted by oregonsharkman
I have a powermaster Xs mini-------so far so good, but I never had a hot starting problem before. The main attraction for me was a pretty substantial weight savings and a cleaner, tighter fit.
I've used the Powermaster xs torque for years with NO problems....I'm fully satisfied.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by Gordonm
I have a GM starter that is used in most of the newer cars. It comes on most of the truck motors and most of the newer cars. Very small and light weight.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Originally Posted by greyghost79
anybody have any experience or opinions about gear reductions starters. Mean Green sells a 4.4 to 1 starter that they "claim" solves all hot start problems. my 79 starts fine when cold but really "bogs down" on restarts after running up to operating temperature. heat soak from headers. put in a starter relay which helped a little. heat sheilds seem to have no effect. would appreciate hearing from anyone who has used one of these starters.
When I asked the vendor about it, I was send another starter - which sounds the same way.
My stroker has 12K miles on it now, and the starter is still noisey as Dickens. But it starts every time.
They explained to me that the reduction starters have one gear less than the OEM starter and thats' what causes the noise.
Any takers on that?
