what the hell happened to my starter?

[dbmx66]

okay so i fired it up, did the timing, let in run for a few minutes, shut if off, go to start it back up all i hear is this grinding noise, so when i look at the starter, the teeth that engage into the flex pate are stuck in the flex plate.

the starter has not been moved since the engine has been dropped in, the bolts were tight as well?

everytime i do the paperclip trick and get it at a good spot, i tap the start button, and it gets stuck in to flex plate... everytime.

what happened?

[lilpoindexter]

Are you using starter shims?

[dbmx66]

Originally Posted by lilpoindexter

Are you using starter shims?

no. for the past 2 months its started perfectly everyday. now all of a sudden it wont engage right

[Big Port Jimmy 6]

Make sure the flex plate/flywheel isn't loose or cracked.

[cableguy0]

Do you have a starter brace? Are you sure the nosecone on the starter isnt cracked? Also check and make sure the block itself isnt cracked around the starter mounting hole.

[dbmx66]

flexplate is brand new, and its not a stock style starter, its a race starter, no cracks in block either.

[Dave]

There's nothing like being in front of the problem first hand, but here it goes.

How many teeth is there on the flex plate, i.e. 168? How about the starter bendix gear? What's the height of the race starter in comparison to stock? If there's say around 10 thousands or more difference in height at the mounting surfaces, I've seen it cause a problem.

At this point with what you've described thus far, it sounds like an engagement / alignment issue.

[dbmx66]

Originally Posted by Dave

There's nothing like being in front of the problem first hand, but here it goes.

How many teeth is there on the flex plate, i.e. 168? How about the starter bendix gear? What's the height of the race starter in comparison to stock? If there's say around 10 thousands or more difference in height at the mounting surfaces, I've seen it cause a problem.

At this point with what you've described thus far, it sounds like an engagement / alignment issue.

flexplate is 168 i think, not positive. idk about the starter, didnt check the height difference.

only thing i wanna know is how come i could start it fine since the first time woke broke the engine in, and now all of a sudden it doesnt work.

[Dave]

I wish I could give you a definitive answer to your problem, but I think it lies with the bendix gear properly meshing with the flywheel. Does the bendix gear look as if it has been damaged in any way, (missing teeth)?

Have a friend bump the starter (after you've taken all safety precautions) with you underneath watching the engagment of the starter to flywheel.

Hope this helps.

[dbmx66]

Originally Posted by Dave

I wish I could give you a definitive answer to your problem, but I think it lies with the bendix gear properly meshing with the flywheel. Does the bendix gear look as if it has been damaged in any way, (missing teeth)?

Have a friend bump the starter (after you've taken all safety precautions) with you underneath watching the engagment of the starter to flywheel.

Hope this helps.

teeth on flexplate and starter are both fine. i have my brother lay underneath and watch as i tapped the button. it makes a jammed/grinding noise and the starter gear is wedged in the flexplate. makes no sense

[Dave]

There's is specific amount of gap necessary between the 2 gears that mesh together (flywheel and bendix gear). Often times if the gap is too much or not enough the starter gear becomes jammed. There is a tool that can obtained for measuring such gaps. Any auto parts house should have it.

[Toxic Redline]

THis happened to me with a racing starter, what happened is that it has a mounting bracket that you put the bolts through to and into the block, well that mounting bracked then attaches to the started by 3 or 4 small bolts, it had broken those holding bolts and allows some play in the starter, that is what happened to me

[Toxic Redline]

The first one is what it looks like together, the second shows how the mounting bracket thing can come apart, the third shows the holes that the mounting bolts go in, and if your wondering how i got those pictures, its because i have a stock starter in.

[tucsonjwt]

I got a GM high torque mini starter for my 454 and it does mount odd. It does not fill the "hole" completely where the stock starter went, so I question the whole mounting concept. I remember reading different bolt holes being used for different engines. I'll have to bolt a piece of sheet metal in that opening someday. It does take a while to wind down if it does not start the first time, but it does help overcome the "heat soak" problem on the big block.

[storked82]

Hello
Dont mean to sound like I know every thing I had the same thing happen to me 2 weeks ago I have the same small raceing stater I left the truck set for the winter went to start it it made a hell of a noise I took the starter off and the gear all the teeth was missing I got lucky and the fly wheel was ok so I just bought a new starter and now you can turn the key and it fires right up

Good luck

Jeff M

[dbmx66]

Originally Posted by Toxic Redline

THis happened to me with a racing starter, what happened is that it has a mounting bracket that you put the bolts through to and into the block, well that mounting bracked then attaches to the started by 3 or 4 small bolts, it had broken those holding bolts and allows some play in the starter, that is what happened to me

wen i took the starter off i checked them, they were fine

[dbmx66]

Originally Posted by storked82

Hello
Dont mean to sound like I know every thing I had the same thing happen to me 2 weeks ago I have the same small raceing stater I left the truck set for the winter went to start it it made a hell of a noise I took the starter off and the gear all the teeth was missing I got lucky and the fly wheel was ok so I just bought a new starter and now you can turn the key and it fires right up

Good luck

Jeff M

the teeth on both the flexplate and starter are good.

[willett]

check runout on the bendix gear. perhaps you somehow bent the input shaft??

[motornut]

have you tried the starter when loose
does it engage and disengage when loose(try many times)
seen starter gear get a little rusty and not work right in/out
if the flywheel wasn't new i'd say check it too for wear/damage

[dbmx66]

Originally Posted by motornut

have you tried the starter when loose
does it engage and disengage when loose(try many times)
seen starter gear get a little rusty and not work right in/out
if the flywheel wasn't new i'd say check it too for wear/damage

there isnt any rust any where on either of them. it makes no sense