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Shimming a starter?

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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 03:13 PM
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Shimming a starter?

So i recently replaced a ring gear becuase the teeth got chewed up by my starter, someone said it needs to be shimmed? Any idea where to get them? and how to do it? Couldnt find it im my shop manual. Thanks!

Maybe its the starter drive?
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 03:30 PM
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What engine???
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 03:52 PM
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Its a 215 sorry
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 04:04 PM
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That's usually a Chevy thing, never heard of shimming a Ford engine.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 04:42 PM
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Ditto - bolt it in and go has been my experience with Fords. 350 Chev, different story.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 05:43 PM
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Any reason why its chewing it up?
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 07:24 PM
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Are you saying you replaced the ring gear on the flywheel, plus a new starter gear and it's still chewing your ring gear?
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 08:47 PM
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Nope just the ring gear. The starter gear was fine.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2011 | 11:08 PM
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I have shimmed a 289 starter before, bought it at NAPA.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 11:05 AM
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Originally Posted by John55F100
I have shimmed a 289 starter before, bought it at NAPA.
If this is true, then you got the wrong starter. Fords are not intended or designed to be shimmed. Even GM's are only shimmed a few thousands, if necessary, to make up for their production machining tolerances on the bottoms of their blocks and starter bodies.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 11:57 AM
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At a minimum you should replace the starter drive gear. How old is the starter? Ford starters should never need to be shimmed. I'll start by asking the obvious, you did put the ring gear on the correct way and the flywheel bolts are torqued correctly? In my experiance, I always replace the starter when ever the ring gear is replaced. Most starters wear in to the ring gear until tolerances are worn into the ring gear.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 12:32 PM
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This is probably the shim 'John55100' was talking about sold at NAPA. I bought it and used it to reuse a 289 c/4 trans. starter with a standard transmission flywheel as it was a new starter and i never wanted to buy another new one. 289 auto starters have a little longer nose on them than the standard ones do. I just checked a couple in my shop and it's about 1/4 to 3/8 in longer. I think the 260,302 and maybe 351 W, were the only engine ford did that way. There are two different part numbers for them.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 12:34 PM
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Don't know how old the starter is. I did not replace the starter drive gear. I am pretty sure the ring was put on right. What would be ur recommendations? New starter gear? Or new starter? Or new everything? Man this kind of stuff is frustrating.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2011 | 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by jim collins
This is probably the shim 'John55100' was talking about sold at NAPA. I bought it and used it to reuse a 289 c/4 trans. starter with a standard transmission flywheel as it was a new starter and i never wanted to buy another new one. 289 auto starters have a little longer nose on them than the standard ones do. I just checked a couple in my shop and it's about 1/4 to 3/8 in longer. I think the 260,302 and maybe 351 W, were the only engine ford did that way. There are two different part numbers for them.
Yes that would be the shim I was referring to.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2011 | 11:32 AM
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If it was MY truck, I would put a new starter in it first. Did you install a new pilot bushing while you had the transmission out?
 
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