Solenoid type starter in F134 - Bad?

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:11 am

Do these types of starters ruin a ring gear over time? The reason I'm asking is I pulled an engine apart that was converted to 12v and the front of each tooth of the ring gear was rounded.

I've pulled three engines apart that were never converted and the ring gear looked perfect.

Coincidence or just poor alignment?

Post by **wesk** » Tue May 22, 2012 5:15 pm

Usually the wrong starter/starter drive or one that was not adjusted properly.

The kick type starter has a better record because we first push the drive pinion into proper engagement with the ring gear with our foot before we let the electrical switch close and spin the drive. When the solenoid operated type Bendix gets tired it doesn't fully engage the ring gear before it is spinning very quickly.

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Tue May 22, 2012 9:59 pm

Good info Wes. Thanks again.

citabra · Post by **citabra** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:20 am

You may know this already but if the teeth are not too damaged you can remove the ring with the heat from a torch, flip it around, place it back on the flywheel and let it cool. The starter will now engage on the "good" side of the teeth on the ring. Of course it would now be crucial to insure proper engagement with the starter.

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Wed May 23, 2012 9:30 am

Great info.

I was always curious about this because it seems like every ring gear I've looked at; Chevy, Ford, ect. had rounded teeth and the F134 engines that have not been converted have had perfectly square teeth. I thought maybe the solenoid may be slamming the gear.