help with starter PLEASE!!

[m37m38]

Fianlly got my M38 back together after frame off restoration. Rebuilt starter is early M38 as well as flywheel 124 teeth. When I push starter it sounds like they are missing each other or very lightly grinding against. Every so often it will grab and start. I inspected starter gear and flywheel teeth and they both appear good ( the starter gear looks a liitle worn but they are all full length). do you ever have to shim the starter. It is so hard to know what is going on in there because there is no observation panel like on my m37.

I am open to suggestions. I ordered a handcrank so i can drive it until fixed since it runs so well now that all new parts are in. I have missed it sooooo much!!!

please help.

Dave

[PeteL]

Sounds like maybe the starter pinion gear is not sliding freely on the starter shaft. It needs to fly "out" into engagement with the flywheel, from the torque reaction.

Sometimes they free up with regular use, or you could try cleaning and a light lube.

Good luck.

Pete

[remi_emond]

how many teeth on flywheel? is a mismatch possible between flywheel and starter gear?

[wesk]

Both the early and late starters are overunning clutch types. They are not a Bendix type drive. Their pinion gears are designed to be placed COMPLETELY into engagement with the flywheel mechanically by using the kick pedal to push them there and then and only then does the kick pedal linkage close the power switch so the starter will start to turn electrically.. They do not spin out. The only spinning that occurs is when the engine fires and turns faster than the starter . At that point the drive pinion is spun backwards against it's spring to disengage it even though you may not have released the pedal yet.

A weak or broken spring can prevent the pinion from completely engaging in the ring gear.

Loose starter mount bolts, loose bell housing bolts and incorrectly adjusted kick pedals will cause your symptoms.

As for any possible mismatches, the MBP4301UT (early small frame) starter is used with the 124 tooth flywheel ring gear and the MCS4301UT (late M38 & all A1's large frame) starter is used with the 129 tooth ring gear.

[m37m38]

Ok - time to eat crow.
I pulled the starter to count the teeth and i have the correct amount -124. then I started looking at the ring gear and noticed that there were no angled grooves in the face like my old gear to allow the bendix to mesh properly. It appears the ring gear was installed backwards.

OK - here is the question!!!

It appears that I now have to pull everything apart to get the flywheel out and resecure the ring gear. do I make the shop that pressed on my gear backwards pay for the repair??? I am a little embarrased I did not catch it before installation but I am a contractor not a mechanic.

Dave

[Ryan_Miller]

Dave,

I am no expert, but I was thinking that the ring gear could be put on either way.

Wes can shed more light on this.