7.3, F350, CCLB, auto.
It feels like the work on the truck never stops! Several months back I had a no start issue. Took the starter off to have it tested. The PO had installed a 2 bolt starter. Starter tested fine. Reinstalled. Still no start. Long story short did some other repairs and and the first time it started it sounded like nails on a chalk board. Thought I had turbo issues or loose IC boots. Finally removed the inspection plate and the bendix is hitting the ring gear.

Question:

1. Does a 2 bolt starter need to be shimmed? Due to time I removed the starter in the dark. I can't recall if there was a washer separating the starter from the bell housing

2. With the inspection plate off you can tell the ring gear/flex plate seems warped when the engine is running. You can't move it but I haven't tested the bolts to determine the tightness. Before the starter removal I had no issues. But realize the bendix may not be retracting all the way. How much "wobble" is normal?

Thanks!

 

No shims required.

 

You may have the wrong starter? There is a starter on Rockauto made by TYC for our trucks. What do you mean when you say a "no start" issue? It doesn't spin? It spins but won't fire? Clarification please....

 

I had known that I had two pig tails that were burnt and I was buying time before it got worse. I was moving and hoping it could wait a little longer, however one day when I got the truck loaded up to leave. No start. Dead. No crank, nothing. So I thought it was the starter. Took it off to have it checked. It was fine. At the time I didn't know of the fender solenoid. Had the truck towed to the new house since i ran out of time. Replaced UVCH and GP's and it started. I had bought a new fender solenoid but didn't replace it since it did start. However, what I was left with was the starter hitting the ring gear.

In regards to the flex plate, when the truck runs it look like its warped like crazy. Or, is the issue just a bad starter. Up to this point I have had no issue with it, even if it would have been a bad replacement made by the PO.

 

Thanks for the referral. My brother had a contact for a guy (very reputable) that rebuilds alternators and starters. Got both for $175. Anyway when he picked it up the guy said I never seen this starter used on a 7.3. I haven't installed the new one yet. After removing it I do believe the bendix is bad based on how it moved.

 

The two bolt starters are the SD starters but work great on our trucks. They are high torque starters that spin the motor over faster. Like Mike said no shims necessary but I can't tell you about the wobble.