Starter engagement issues
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Elder User
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Starter engagement issues
Figured I’d start a new thread to simplify things. Installed a new motorcraft pmgr starter on my 460 t-19 4speed and I’m getting a horrible cranking noise. It seems like it is either not engaging the flywheel completely sometimes and making a horrible clunking or skipping noise. I also pulled the starter once and noticed metal “dust” at the back/above starter engagement area. I also know there is a different depth between the at/mt starters. The part number is
nsa 3246 n, which is advertised as the correct starter. What can I do to start diagnosing here? Measure flywheel depth and starter engagement depth? I don’t believe they can be shimmed away from the flywheel without elongating bolt holes, where do I start? Thanks everyone!
nsa 3246 n, which is advertised as the correct starter. What can I do to start diagnosing here? Measure flywheel depth and starter engagement depth? I don’t believe they can be shimmed away from the flywheel without elongating bolt holes, where do I start? Thanks everyone!
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Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Angier, NC
I thought on the 460 they only have 1 starter for both types of tranys?
Now could you have one not made to fit a 460? Could happen and even be marked the right part number.
I have seen it posted some have "shimmed" the starter but I don't know just what that entails? The only way I see it is to push the starter & gear more to the front of the truck.
I would do measurements of the gear throw on the starter and of the flywheel to see if they are right. With out looking at it could you get a diameter of where the gears meet?
Dave ----
Now could you have one not made to fit a 460? Could happen and even be marked the right part number.
I have seen it posted some have "shimmed" the starter but I don't know just what that entails? The only way I see it is to push the starter & gear more to the front of the truck.
I would do measurements of the gear throw on the starter and of the flywheel to see if they are right. With out looking at it could you get a diameter of where the gears meet?
Dave ----
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In a recent thread a guy on here had a aftermarket geared starter somewhat like yours, and he was having all sorts of trouble with it. It came with a shim, he stuck it in there as the instructions said to, and he said it fixed it.
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reminds me of “new and improved,” can it be both? It’s definitely a Motorcraft one....
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Here are some measurements I took. First from the starter mounting surface to the depth of the flywheel teeth .625” and the width of the teeth is actually .45” that makes for an engagement minimum of .625” out to maximum .670.
Next the starter, it has a .165 lip machined into the nosecone that recesses the starter in the engine plate. At fully rested position, the gear teeth stick out an additional .290. The furthest the gear can be thrown out is another .8”
at full disengage, I’m looking at the .625 clearance minus the recessed lip of .165=.460. That means there is .165 clearance between flywheel teeth and starter gear. At engaged, .670-.165 lip=.505” so it seems that the gear can be thrown out .295 further than the flywheel. Does this make any sense? I’m assuming I’ll need to shim starter.295 outwards?
Next the starter, it has a .165 lip machined into the nosecone that recesses the starter in the engine plate. At fully rested position, the gear teeth stick out an additional .290. The furthest the gear can be thrown out is another .8”
at full disengage, I’m looking at the .625 clearance minus the recessed lip of .165=.460. That means there is .165 clearance between flywheel teeth and starter gear. At engaged, .670-.165 lip=.505” so it seems that the gear can be thrown out .295 further than the flywheel. Does this make any sense? I’m assuming I’ll need to shim starter.295 outwards?
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Might worth mentioning the measurements for the starter gear is from the front face that would be closest to the starter, and that gear is actually .660” width. Is it worth sticking a washer between starter and bellhousing and see what it sounds like? Rough shimming?
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Here are some measurements I took. First from the starter mounting surface to the depth of the flywheel teeth .625” and the width of the teeth is actually .45” that makes for an engagement minimum of .625” out to maximum .670.
Next the starter, it has a .165 lip machined into the nosecone that recesses the starter in the engine plate. At fully rested position, the gear teeth stick out an additional .290. The furthest the gear can be thrown out is another .8”
at full disengage, I’m looking at the .625 clearance minus the recessed lip of .165=.460. That means there is .165 clearance between flywheel teeth and starter gear. At engaged, .670-.165 lip=.505” so it seems that the gear can be thrown out .295 further than the flywheel. Does this make any sense? I’m assuming I’ll need to shim starter.295 outwards?
Next the starter, it has a .165 lip machined into the nosecone that recesses the starter in the engine plate. At fully rested position, the gear teeth stick out an additional .290. The furthest the gear can be thrown out is another .8”
at full disengage, I’m looking at the .625 clearance minus the recessed lip of .165=.460. That means there is .165 clearance between flywheel teeth and starter gear. At engaged, .670-.165 lip=.505” so it seems that the gear can be thrown out .295 further than the flywheel. Does this make any sense? I’m assuming I’ll need to shim starter.295 outwards?
