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-   -   Problems with Starter (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/do-yourself-boating-budget/262428-problems-starter.html)

srl520 09-28-2011 09:42 PM


Originally Posted by 4bus (Post 3511069)
I don't know how you can put a shim in correctly with the engine in the boat, unless you guess.

4bus, you say you pulled motor. How did you come up with the #3 shim working.
Did you have to pull motor each time you tried the different shims?
Or were you lucky on the first try?

How did you know when you had the right one installed?

skydog 09-28-2011 09:47 PM


Originally Posted by 4bus (Post 3511069)
I went through this exactly a few years ago on my port side 500hp, in fact I ended up taking teeth out of my flywheel ring.

I don't know how you can put a shim in correctly with the engine in the boat, unless you guess. I lifted the port engine high enough to remove the starter, bell housing and flywheel. Changed ring gear, removed inspection plate from bell housing, then replaced starter and used a shim kit that had 4 different shim sizes. After trial and error shim #3 was the ticket. Never had a problem again.

I sold those engines after a re-power. The new owner replaced the starters just "because". He had the same problem, he never saw the shim when he removed the old starters. He replaced the shim and no issues :grinser010:

BTW, only use OEM GM bolts!

It can be done with a video scoop, hard but can be done.

srl520 09-29-2011 08:12 AM


Originally Posted by skydog (Post 3515169)
It can be done with a video scoop, hard but can be done.

I am not sure what this means. I have been able to R&R the starter without removing the engine.

skydog 09-29-2011 08:14 AM

Sorry I mean u can set backlash and depth right with out pulling motor with a bore video camera.

bajabob 09-29-2011 05:44 PM

ok i just went throw the same thing you are !! i put a low gear starter no good so i got a brand new one the old stlye. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-S...item53e9599711 then after that it was my timing so i got a starter box from msd . been working great . this lets you start your motor at 10degrees after the rpm go past 800rpm if you got it on 34degees . i love it . i have 718hp so that help me good luck ya i did not use any shims

4bus 09-30-2011 05:52 AM


Originally Posted by srl520 (Post 3515160)
4bus, you say you pulled motor. How did you come up with the #3 shim working.
Did you have to pull motor each time you tried the different shims?
Or were you lucky on the first try?

How did you know when you had the right one installed?

Mount the starter, pull the gear out to contact the ring gear and check the gear mesh. You should have just a little bit of space between the starter gear and the flywheel gear, about the thickness of a business card. Too little and you will grind and break off teeth, too much and it will add drag, over work the starter.

Was not lucky, it was the third shim I had tried out of the pack of 4.

4bus 09-30-2011 05:55 AM


Originally Posted by bajabob (Post 3516038)
ok i just went throw the same thing you are !! i put a low gear starter no good so i got a brand new one the old stlye.

Or you can go this route, keep buying starters until you get lucky and find one that happened to be machined to match your engine :eek:

I have never seen a shim on the stock starter, however I have seen grinding marks on the block and the starter mating surface which leads me to believe that someone at the factory matched the surfaces for proper gear mesh. Don;t be afraid of the shims, they make them for a reason.

bajabob 09-30-2011 01:44 PM

are you shore your timming is ok?????? i would put the timing at 10 degrees at a idle then try that for a day and see if that works after you but a new starter. i did that changing shims on mine and no shims needed. it was my timing to mush !!:drink:

srl520 09-30-2011 05:16 PM

I will be out this weekend with it again. I ran a ground cable from the battery to the starter bolt. Of course on the trailer it starts fine again.
I want to see if this makes any difference in the motor turning over slower when the starter does decide to act up.

Randy Nielsen 10-01-2011 12:11 AM

When I worked for ford mo co they started buying starters,alt,etc from junk yards & remanufacturing them if GM was doing the same thing trueing mounting surfaces could cause problems too. Certified trans made us flatten the belhousing surface on every trans that left that plant & it caused a few starter issues on fords cause the starter mounts to the belhousing, just a thought


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