1999 Volvo Penta 4.3L starter ring gear grinding

[bwgintegra]

I have searched this forum and found many discussions on this topic and would like some input on my issue with starter/ring gear grinding.

1999 Four Winns Horizon 180
Engine: Volvo Penta 4.3l Block type 432BPBYC
Correct me if I wrong but the 432BPBYC would be a 1998 production year.

Bought the boat this year and had no issues when tested at sellers home.
A few weeks after owning the boat went to start it and get a horrible grinding when engaging the starter.

I pulled the starter that the previous owner said was just a few years old. It's an Arco 30470A starter. I spot a few teeth on the bendix that are damaged and the ring gear looks good, just a little bit of damage on the edge of a few teeth. Also, the bolts were not very tight on the starter.

I decide to buy a new starter and new battery. Boat works great for three weeks and now back to the grinding. I reused the starter bolts with the new starter and felt that something didn't feel right when tightening them up. The one both felt like it was bottoming out and I could get my torque wrench in the area.

This past weekend I removed the new starter to inspect everything again. I found two issues.

Issue 1, the bolt hole on the left appears it may have a slight crack in the cast and the part of the block that has a counterbore for the starter bolt looks washed out/damaged. I'm thinking this is causing the starter to walk. See attached image with mirror looking up at starter bolt hole.

Issue 2, picture attached of starters. Both have this wear mark on the inner staggered mount. I know the new one did not have this and now removed it matches up just like the one I removed.

I plan on buying some GM OEM 12338064 starter bolts.

Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated

 

[alldodge]

Does appear to be loose. The newer PMG starters are 3 3/16 across. Need 3/8-16 x 3 5/8 long bolts like Dorman or ARP

 

[cptbill]

There are probably shims missing, any parts store or starter shop would have them. What happens is someone before you has changed the starter or at least had it off and never put the shims in it, then when you hit the key the starter Bendix hits the teeth on the fly wheel instead of engaging properly

 

[alldodge]

No GM motor uses shims anymore. Shims will move the starter further away from the ring gear and that's the problem

 

[QBhoy]

Known this to happen to a few GM v8’s. Known some to take a temporary repair for a while too…but ultimately ended up in a new block, I’m afraid.

 

[Bondo]

I have searched this forum and found many discussions on this topic and would like some input on my issue with starter/ring gear grinding.

1999 Four Winns Horizon 180
Engine: Volvo Penta 4.3l Block type 432BPBYC
Correct me if I wrong but the 432BPBYC would be a 1998 production year.

Bought the boat this year and had no issues when tested at sellers home.
A few weeks after owning the boat went to start it and get a horrible grinding when engaging the starter.

I pulled the starter that the previous owner said was just a few years old. It's an Arco 30470A starter. I spot a few teeth on the bendix that are damaged and the ring gear looks good, just a little bit of damage on the edge of a few teeth. Also, the bolts were not very tight on the starter.

I decide to buy a new starter and new battery. Boat works great for three weeks and now back to the grinding. I reused the starter bolts with the new starter and felt that something didn't feel right when tightening them up. The one both felt like it was bottoming out and I could get my torque wrench in the area.

This past weekend I removed the new starter to inspect everything again. I found two issues.

Issue 1, the bolt hole on the left appears it may have a slight crack in the cast and the part of the block that has a counterbore for the starter bolt looks washed out/damaged. I'm thinking this is causing the starter to walk. See attached image with mirror looking up at starter bolt hole.

Issue 2, picture attached of starters. Both have this wear mark on the inner staggered mount. I know the new one did not have this and now removed it matches up just like the one I removed.

I plan on buying some GM OEM 12338064 starter bolts.

Any advice or recommendations would be appreciated

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... The bolts were bottoming out, they're too long,.....
Just grind 1/4" off the ends, 'n put it back together,....

By properly clamping the housing to the block, all the other "Problems" will also be cured,.....

 

[Scott Danforth]

A few hardened washers under the bolt heads also works

 

[bwgintegra]

Thanks for the responses, I have GM OEM bolts coming tomorrow. I’ll compare them to the ones currently installed. Hope to get the new starter and new bolts installed on Saturday. I’m going to do my best to get my torque wrench in there and get 35 ft lbs on the bolts.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks for the responses, I have GM OEM bolts coming tomorrow. I’ll compare them to the ones currently installed. Hope to get the new starter and new bolts installed on Saturday. I’m going to do my best to get my torque wrench in there and get 35 ft lbs on the bolts.

Did you get OEM bolts for the old starter, or correct bolts for the new starter?

 

[bwgintegra]

Did you get OEM bolts for the old starter, or correct bolts for the new starter?

The starter that came on the boat was an aftermarket Arco and don't know if they installed it with original bolts or bolts that came with the Arco. Arco website says they ship the starter with new bolts. The starter I bought was a rebuilt Delco that is suppose to be OEM. Both starter are PMGR and both have the same dimensions. The through hole bolt hole length on both starters is 3.250 inches. The OEM bolts I purchased are 3/8-16 4 5/16 length. That would give me just over an inch for knurling and threads that go into the block. That sounds about right to me

 

[Scott Danforth]

Actually sounds too long.....

as the bolts for PMGR starters are 10mm necked down to 3/8" threads and are about 4-1/8" long

The type 2 GM starter bolt is 3/8 x 4-21/64 or 4-5/16 and type 1 GM starter bolt is 3/8 x 3-5/8" long that are used on the direct drive motor

LS starters use a M11x113mm and M11x45mm

 

[bwgintegra]

Actually sounds too long.....

as the bolts for PMGR starters are 10mm necked down to 3/8" threads and are about 4-1/8" long

The type 2 GM starter bolt is 3/8 x 4-21/64 or 4-5/16 and type 1 GM starter bolt is 3/8 x 3-5/8" long that are used on the direct drive motor

LS starters use a M11x113mm and M11x45mm

Thanks for the information, greatly appreciated!
Are the PMGR starter bolts something I should be able to get from a local automotive store? Any particular brand? Would you perhaps to have a part number or link?

Thanks

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thanks for the information, greatly appreciated!
Are the PMGR starter bolts something I should be able to get from a local automotive store? Any particular brand? Would you perhaps to have a part number or link?

Thanks

Go to NAPA tell them you need starter bolts for a GM PMGR starter