Starter issue
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From: VA
The starter will only come of if I take the passenger side header off, and that would most likely involve lifting that side of the engine to pull the header out. Really a pain. Turns a 20-30 minute starter replacement job into a 2.5+ hour job...
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From: VA
Well, I turned the crankshaft over, and the starter turned the engine over fine. I guess I have a tooth missing on the flex plate. I was just playing with timing adjustments couple of days ago, and I'd just retarded the timing further than I've ever had it. This was right before it was parked and sat for a day. Could that have left the flex plate in a position that it isn't normally left in? Never had any issues starting it, and have never heard any grinding or anything of that nature. I've heard that with an engine, there are certain places that it likes to stop depending on how many times it can turn over when you turn it off. So depending on the compression and timing adjustments, would that leave the flex plate somewhere it usually doesn't end up at? I adjusted the timing back up just a little. I guess I'll see how it does.
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From: VA
Well, had a hard time starting again. It would turn the engine over a little then the starter would just spin freely. Had about 45 minutes until dark, and I pulled the header away from the head and from the connector to the exhaust. I loosened the starter and pulled it back a bit, but it's still blocked from coming out by the header. I'll only be able to pull the header and starter out if I unbolt the engine mounts and tilt the engine so that the header will have enough clearance. Really sucks, but that's the way it is...
I can pull the starter back enough to see that the starter gears are REALLY rounded down, and there's one spot in the flex plate that's chewed a little. Not sure how bad the flex plate is. Might not have to replace it. I'll try to get a better look at it soon. Probably not until the weekend. I'll try to upload pictures if I can.
I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I've never done anything like this. Any advice.
I can pull the starter back enough to see that the starter gears are REALLY rounded down, and there's one spot in the flex plate that's chewed a little. Not sure how bad the flex plate is. Might not have to replace it. I'll try to get a better look at it soon. Probably not until the weekend. I'll try to upload pictures if I can.
I'm pretty mechanically inclined, but I've never done anything like this. Any advice.
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From: VA
I've decided I'm going to get the starter off and try to just put another starter on it without doing anything with the flex plate.
I don't have any pictures yet, but here are some pics from google that resemble my scenario.
Here's what the starter gear should look like: http://www.lulusoso.com/upload/20110...otor_Parts.jpg
My starter gear much more resembles this or worse for how the teeth look (the gear in the pic is made that way): http://www.zx6e.net/forums/uploads/p...1117998132.jpg
The one worn spot (about 1.5") in my flex plate isn't as bad as this flex plate: http://www.aclassinfo.co.uk/worn%20ring-gear.jpg
I don't have any pictures yet, but here are some pics from google that resemble my scenario.
Here's what the starter gear should look like: http://www.lulusoso.com/upload/20110...otor_Parts.jpg
My starter gear much more resembles this or worse for how the teeth look (the gear in the pic is made that way): http://www.zx6e.net/forums/uploads/p...1117998132.jpg
The one worn spot (about 1.5") in my flex plate isn't as bad as this flex plate: http://www.aclassinfo.co.uk/worn%20ring-gear.jpg
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From: VA
Yeah, I don't have time to work on it today, but I'll get into it tomorrow. I'll try to take pics and post them. I'm praying that the flex plate is okay. If not, I have a much bigger job on my hands...
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From: VA
Well, found some time this evening, and I got into it. Got the starter off and got some pics.
Here's the worn down starter gear. This starter is 25 years old.
Here's the worst part of the flex plate. It's not bad.
Here's what the rest of the flex plate looks like. Pretty much perfect.
Here's the worn down starter gear. This starter is 25 years old.
Here's the worst part of the flex plate. It's not bad.
Here's what the rest of the flex plate looks like. Pretty much perfect.
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From: VA
I was really relieved when I saw that the flex plate wasn't bad. That was really worrying me...
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From: VA
Got it all back together, and everything's good to go. It's a really tight fit with the starter and header. I had a hard time fitting it back together, but got it with some effort.
The new starter seems a bit more torquey than the old one. I don't know if it has a higher rating, but I think the old one was probably just getting tired.
The new starter seems a bit more torquey than the old one. I don't know if it has a higher rating, but I think the old one was probably just getting tired.
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From: VA
On top of getting it all fixed, it was pretty cheap too. I got the starter from Advanced Auto Parts, and used a "$20 off of $50 or more" coupon I found online. The starter was $54.99 regularly with a $15 core charge. I took the core in when I picked it up, and got out of the store with a new starter for $37.49 including tax. Felt pretty good with that, haha
I also replaced the fender-mounted solenoid. I wasn't sure how old it was, but I knew it had some age on it. Didn't want that to be the next thing to go...
I also replaced the fender-mounted solenoid. I wasn't sure how old it was, but I knew it had some age on it. Didn't want that to be the next thing to go...
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Yeah, I don't usually worry much about coupons. Recently I tallied up receipts on things I bought for my truck in 2012, and it wasn't pretty. Haha. Since then I've been trying to catch deals, and use coupons. I love adding things to my truck and doing maintenance on it, I just need to figure out a cheaper way to do it, lol. I save money by doing maintenance myself, and then I pretty much spend the savings on flashy stuff, sound stuff, accessories, lights, etc... Oh well, I have an addiction.
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