Starter spacing

[Russell Fulks]

Hello all,

As mentioned earlier, my 77 L-82 has a slight grinding noise after starting. The info I got was to use a starter shim kit to make sure the starter is aligned correctly. My question is this: what is the correct alignment? I could just get the shim kit from Oreilly's but I don't know if I should use all the pieces, or just some. Any help in diagnosis and correct spacing would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Russ Fulks

[Terry M.]

Re: Starter spacing *TL*

Russell,
There is a procedure in the Factory Service Manual for the years I have manuals for 1967-1972. I expect it would be the same for all the years of the venerable small and large motors up to 1982.
The procedure is rather involved and most folks just add a shim and try it until the noise goes away.
The dimension is, working from memory here, 0.035 between the top of a tooth to the base between two teeth. A paper clip is about the right dimension, but how to get the starter gear to stay engaged with the flywheel, and at the same time get access to the teeth to make the measurement is the problem. Removing the solenoid will solve the gear engagement issue, but access to the point of engagement is near impossible.
Good luck.

[Terry M.]

Re: Starter spacing *TL*

Russell,
There is a procedure in the Factory Service Manual for the years I have manuals for 1967-1972. I expect it would be the same for all the years of the venerable small and large motors up to 1982.
The procedure is rather involved and most folks just add a shim and try it until the noise goes away.
The dimension is, working from memory here, 0.035 between the top of a tooth to the base between two teeth. A paper clip is about the right dimension, but how to get the starter gear to stay engaged with the flywheel, and at the same time get access to the teeth to make the measurement is the problem. Removing the solenoid will solve the gear engagement issue, but access to the point of engagement is near impossible.
Good luck.

[Wayne C.]

Re: Starter spacing

Haven't done this, but...

A general repair manual I have says that for GM cars the meshed teeth should touch about 3/4 of the way down (each tooth) and that there should be at least 0.020 inches of gap between the backsides of the engaged gears (non-touching side of the teeth) as measured with a wire gauge. You would have to remove the flywheel pan and manually move the starter gear into the flywheel (as mentioned, removing the solenoid would assist in doing this). Shim as required to attain the spec.

Also, inspect for damaged teeth on the starter and the flywheel.

[Wayne C.]

Re: Starter spacing

Haven't done this, but...

A general repair manual I have says that for GM cars the meshed teeth should touch about 3/4 of the way down (each tooth) and that there should be at least 0.020 inches of gap between the backsides of the engaged gears (non-touching side of the teeth) as measured with a wire gauge. You would have to remove the flywheel pan and manually move the starter gear into the flywheel (as mentioned, removing the solenoid would assist in doing this). Shim as required to attain the spec.

Also, inspect for damaged teeth on the starter and the flywheel.

[russell fulks]

Re: Starter spacing

Thanks all,

I am probably going to try to space it this weekend. I'll try to remove the solenoid and do it the "right" way, but if that doesn't work, I'll shim and test until the grinding and/or binding goes away.

Thanks again for your help.

Russ

[russell fulks]

Re: Starter spacing

Thanks all,

I am probably going to try to space it this weekend. I'll try to remove the solenoid and do it the "right" way, but if that doesn't work, I'll shim and test until the grinding and/or binding goes away.

Thanks again for your help.

Russ