Titan1969
Well-Known Member
I wanted to post up an experience to save others time in the event they replace their starter and find the starter gear not engaging the flywheel.
My starter bendix went out on the 340 Cuda this weekend and no biggie, just ordered another hi torque mini-starter from Oreillys.
installed the starter and while the pinion shot out as expected while key in start mode, it would not engage the flywheel.
I started down a long path of battery, wiring, etc and ran out of idea. I then noticed the top mounting hole (bottom hole in pic) to trans on the starter, has A LOT of gap between bolt and housing like a 1/4 play. Hmmmm. I had already taken the starter out 3x and no change but this time I lightly ran the bolt closest to the ground in and got the top bolt started, then wiggled the starter as much as I could assuring the snout was in the bell housing hole (push towards rear of car) and starter pushed towards the converter as much as possible.
i held out little hope this did anything as the starter did not seem to change position...but sure enough WORKED LIKE A CHAMP.
I think because the pinon gear teeth are only 1/4 deep on the starter and the top bolt hole in starter is a 1/4" gap between bolt and hole, there was enough slack to gap away from the converter despite there being a bell housing starter snout mount hole.
Hope it saves some one frustration in the future.
My starter bendix went out on the 340 Cuda this weekend and no biggie, just ordered another hi torque mini-starter from Oreillys.
installed the starter and while the pinion shot out as expected while key in start mode, it would not engage the flywheel.
I started down a long path of battery, wiring, etc and ran out of idea. I then noticed the top mounting hole (bottom hole in pic) to trans on the starter, has A LOT of gap between bolt and housing like a 1/4 play. Hmmmm. I had already taken the starter out 3x and no change but this time I lightly ran the bolt closest to the ground in and got the top bolt started, then wiggled the starter as much as I could assuring the snout was in the bell housing hole (push towards rear of car) and starter pushed towards the converter as much as possible.
i held out little hope this did anything as the starter did not seem to change position...but sure enough WORKED LIKE A CHAMP.
I think because the pinon gear teeth are only 1/4 deep on the starter and the top bolt hole in starter is a 1/4" gap between bolt and hole, there was enough slack to gap away from the converter despite there being a bell housing starter snout mount hole.
Hope it saves some one frustration in the future.