Starter, Flexplate woes

[my66coupe]

Ok when I rebuilt my engine, I stuck with the original flexplate, it had a section of about 5 teeth that were eaten up pretty bad. Before the build the starter would Rarely find these teeth and require me to turn the engine over by hand until it found good teeth to mesh with. Well with the new engine, my original starter exploded on initial start up. I installed a new starter, and found that it was nicking the flexplate while running making a griding sound. I added a starter spacer and the problem was solved. Everything was fine up until now that my motor is starting to break in with roughly 2500 miles on it, The starter seems that it is too far away making a grinding sound when cranking over and it finds those 5 burned off teeth quite more often forcing me to carry breaker bar and a 15/16 socket at all times. Soo, is it normal for starters to break in and start to seat where they should? Should I remove the spacer and see what happens? I have another spacer laying around, should I double them up??? Thanks

Mike

 

[stangman67]

Did you install the block plate? I am unaware of spacers for a ford starter. Im thinking shims like on a chevy. I would say it shouldnt grind at all, new or worn in after 2500 miles

 

[JB66]

Wow, that's not fun. Hindsight is 20/20. You probably wish you spent the little extra now and replaced that flexplate. I don't remember and shims or adjustments to the starter position. Maybe the starter had a burr on the shaft or something like that stopping it from engaging the ring gear properly. Or maybe the assembly itself was binding. I'd pull the starter and see what's going on in there. At the same time, see how many more teeth are missing from the gear. As you continue to start the engine evry day, I will guarantee that teeth will never be added on, but they will be removed. Let us know!

 

[my66coupe]

By spacer I meant shim. Anywho yes the block plate is installed. Im going to pull the starter, and check for metal flakes, also remove the inspection plate and see how those teeth are looking. Ill get back to you guys

Mike

 

[latamud]

Sounds like you got something that doesn't match up in your setup. Maybe you are using a "standard" specific starter for an automatic application? Or teeth count is off.

 

[mustangdave]

You have got to be kidding! Buy a new flexplate,($45.00 at Autozone), and check the teeth on your starter while you have it apart; you probably ruined them. As Grissom would say on C.S.I., case closed.

 

[my66coupe]

I removed the inspection plate, and turned the crank over by hand, the teeth were all fine minus the original section that had been eaten up before the build. I removed the starter, and the shim, there was about 1/8'' of starter eaten up. I removed the shim and reinstalled, the car starts quicker and doesnt grind anymore. Only problem, on a cold start where you apply gas, the engine will rev on initial start up, but the starter will nick the flex plate when it springs back into place... Don't know the anatomy of a starter to well, but it sounds like the return spring or whatever mechanism in there that returns the teeth from the flexplate is too weak. Thanks guys

Mike

 

[spirockp]

Mike what kind of starter do you have? Is it a rebuild? There is a current thred open with me and someone else with the same issue and can't get it resolved? BTW, what size shims did you use?

Peter S.

 

[my66coupe]

The one that went bad recently was a NAPA reman.....I cored it in for a reman Checker brand and it A. looks wayyy beefier and B it works 100% better. The NAPA was sluggish and and would grind every 5 seconds. The checker is perky and fast and never grinds. I had to use a 1/8" shim for the starter.

Mike