Thread: Starting problem

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Hey everybody-new to the site. An awesome one it is.
My starter keeps eating off the teeth on my ring gear every 3-4 months. I've replaced several of them(both) with what the parts store considers matching. The flywheel is not warped. I've tried installing the starter with the washers on the bolts and without. The problem is that the starter doesn't seem to be seating all of the way on the ring gear. It chews up the front half when sliding in on the flywheel. Is this a common fix. Could my crank be moving? I greatly appreciate any help. Thanks

Sounds like you have the wrong starter to me.
Is this on your 390?
Kurt

yes. Do you know if there are many starters for this. Unfortunately I don't have the numbers off the block at the time for any referencing etc. I'll get that soon. Do 390's take different starters depending on the year manu'd?

I believe there is a couple differant starter for the 390's.
I know there are three differant ones for the Clevelands,
because I had the same problem, and the wrong starter.
Kurt

Is that thin metal block plate in place between the engine and bellhousing? If it isn't there you will never get the starter to engage properly. Sometimes people forget to reinstall it when they pull the transmission.

Don

Sorry had to grab lunch-wife is pregnant. Can't make her mad lol. Thanks alot. I'll double check what ya mentioned and get back to ya. The rig is at my friends house. Pretty sure the plate is intact. I've had a few starters that yes were not shimmed properly. Also since the headers are in the way : ( I'll take off the dust cover and maybe see if I can pull the gear out to see if it's even sliding out far enough. Just a little frustrated with it.

One more quick question if all else seems to be fine. Is it possible to have a bad main bearing etc for the crank to move back and forth. I didn't recall seeing any signs by the balancer when checking area. Should I try and pry a little to see. I don't know of everything the rebuild consisted of just before I got the truck locally, but I do know he put down 3700. Now he's overseas and I can't get any info. Hopefully the shop did what they said they did lol. Maybe my time is going to be tied up here shortly.

Originally Posted by Louey

With the so called rebuilt starters from the parts store, you have to check the starter end play. If it clunks back and forth, they did not shim the end play correctly. So when you engage the starter, the armature moves back, and you get a weak engagement. If the metal plate is left off, all that will do is allow the starter to engage deeper into the ring gear teeth. You need to also check with the cover off, and see what the total engagement is. Hope this helps a little.

The real purpose of the metal plate on Fords is to index the starter the correct distance from the crank centerline. If it is not in place, or is damaged so that the starter won't fit in straight and snug, the starter will not be located properly. Some folks call these plates a shim or torque plate also. But they actually were meant to locate the starter. If you inspect closely the original bolts Ford used to bolt in the starter, you'll notice they don't "fill" the hole like a "normal" bolt. These bolts were meant to allow some alignment space under the washer. And yes. always check the length of the starter drive to ensure complete engagment. Hope it helps.

Thanks for the info. That helps!

Understand completely. Should get at it this weekend. Yes it's acting like it's not going in far enough. I'll tinker with it. Again thanks all!!

You don't normally use shims on Ford starters

Thats what I was thinking to Shoprat.
Thats why I had to ask if this was on his 390.
Now I am waiting to see what the out come is.
Please let us know what you find, 390!!!

Kurt

how many teeth on the flywheel???

Hotrodstude; That should not have anything to do with the starter gear only contacting
half the way on to the flywheel.
Kurt

Originally Posted by Louey

This was intended to clarify the engagement depth on the ring gear teeth. If the metal plate is left off, all that will do is allow the starter to engage deeper into the ring gear teeth.
How ever, the starter can be mounted without the plate, as long as you check the engagement clearance. Not the ideal way to do it though.

Completely WRONG! Leave that plate out and it's a crap shoot as to having the starter the correct distance from the center of the crankshaft! Also if it's bent / twisted / damaged it may prevent proper placement of the starter.

Agree with you on checking the starter drive engagment arm for damage / wear.