Installing a starter...how to align with the flywheel?

[cobra 3.0]

I'm trying to figure out if I need to pull my engine. Here's my predicament:<br /><br />I put in a rebuilt starter about a week ago, only to have it die on my last outing. I brought it back to my rebuild place, the fellow took it a part in front of me to show me lots of metal shavings and a worn out starter. From the looks of it, the starter never let go from the fly wheel. <br /><br />I had it rebuilt again. This time I can't get it to line up properly with my fly wheel. I get a loud growling sound. If it does engage, it won't let go.<br /><br />Upon examining the flywheel, I can see it is rough along the face of it. The teeth seem ok, but you can clearly see the face had "run ins" with the starter drive gear <br /><br />I also found out there were supposed to be shims on the starter to line it up with the flywheel...there weren't any. <br /><br />To top it off, from the two bolts that hold the starter, the inside bolt wasn't there and it seems like the bolt had broken in the hole about 3/8" of an inch in.<br /><br />Has anybody had a similar experience? Are there any tricks? Or do I have to pull the engine?

 

[ppjmb5]

Re: Installing a starter...how to align with the flywheel?

i had a simular problem it would go back down but kept braking teeth off of the starter gear <br />put some chims in it and works great now <br />as for your bolt that might be causing it to stick try to get the bolt out with a srew extractor or if you can drill it out and re tap it

 

[Bondo]

Re: Installing a starter...how to align with the flywheel?

I'd say your problems Started with the Broken Bolt...........<br />If you can get the remaining bolt piece out, with the engine in-place, Great......<br />But, I Doubt that'll happen...........<br />If you have to pull the motor to fix the bolt hole,<br />I'd also replace the Ring Gear at the same time.........<br />It's an Easy Swap.......<br />Remove the Flywheel,<br />Beat the old Ring Gear off.....<br />Heat the New Ring Gear in your Oven,+ Drop it onto the Flywheel..........<br />Make sure it Seats againest the Shoulder.......

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Installing a starter...how to align with the flywheel?

Success! Thanks ppjmb5 and Bondo! I figured if there were missing teeth on ppjmb5's flywheel and it still goes, why not try. Bondo, you were right on with the broken bolt!<br /><br />While trying to drill the old bolt out, the drill bit grabbed the bolt and actually spun it out of the hole! I had to make a very short drill bit or else there wouldn't have been enough room. How lucky can you get! The threads are fine too!<br /><br />I made a new bolt from some rods I had and bolted everything back together. BINGO! No shims needed, no funny growling noises, just a nice clean vroom! I know the starter drive gear is letting go after start up because when I slacked the bolts I was listening for a ping noise that would have indicated that the gear was stuck on the flywheel and had let go. I never heard any ping! <br /><br />I suppose the missing bolt was causing the starter to lean a little cooked...Enough to get the growling sound of the gear not meshing well with the flywheel and sometimes enough for it to grab on the flywheel and not let go.<br /><br />I am one happy boater once more!