Ok, starter fried. easy enough, 3 bolts off and 2 electrical connections.

BTW FWIW, I used a 13mm long socket, a 6" extension, a u-bolt swivel, mounted that to the top bolt using feel, then attached my socket wrench. Didn't remove the electrical connections first. Worked just fine, wasn't a PITA.

ANYWHO, while removing the starter, a black piece of plastic fell on my face (had glasses on, as you should while looking up).

It appears there is a black plastic gasket, or seal, or shim or something that is stuck to the trans housing. It has the holes cut out for the bolts, so it looks factory. And its broken now... HOWEVER, there is NOTHING on google, o'rellys, autozone or ANYWHERE I can find that says there is a gasket there. Or seal. Or shim!!!! What is it called? Do i need it? Is it factory? Or can I just scrape it off and mount metal to metal?

Thanks

 

No gasket required, ive never seen one with one either

 

I never have either altho I have had a few aftermarket starters that I thougt really could have used one.

 

you can see the partial plastic or rubber gasket around the top.

 

put the starter back on; started; went clunk clunk clunk. Shut it off immediately... Didn't retract? Not square? I didn't remove the remnant plastic; I just made sure it was tight. I'll get to scraping that junk off tomorrow when I have daylight. I don't have the patience to work in the dark...

 

replacement is a reman from O'Rellys btw.

 

ok, so remounted it. I couldn't even scrape the plastic junk off... So i took a piece of the stuff that fell off and used it as a spacer to align the starter, but it still wasn't good enough apparently. It didn't clunk this time, but there was still noise like it wasn't disengaging. More of a whine. So, the best I can guess is I'm going to have to figure out a way to get it all completely off before it's going to seat properly, THEN I'm going to have to figure out if it's supposed to have a spacer, and find a place to buy that. Or I have a bad starter... We'll find out tomorrow.

 

I did a quick look at Tousely no listing for any shim and never found one on a 6.0. May be a production error on the starter altho I have seldom had problems with Oreilly stuff.

 

Forgive this question, by what exactly is the starter mounting to? What is it called? Flywheel housing, transmission housing, bell housing... and does THAT parts schematic have a gasket listed for IT?

 

Fly wheel housing....don't know if there is a gasket listed there but highly doubt it, I've never seen a gasket behind ANY starter.

 

I just changed my starter a fews days ago. No gasket on mine.

 

It bolts to the engine rear cover.

 

Correct there is a plate between the engine and tranny. The tranny can be dismounted without removeing the starter leaveing everything inplace on the engine.

 

I'd say bad reman starter I've got bad alternators out the box from oreilys

I can't see that gasket (spacer)making to much difference

 

Double check electrical connectors