Problems with Starter
#11
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?
#12
Registered
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 764
Likes: 6
From: ILL
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
BTW, only use OEM GM bolts!
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

BTW, only use OEM GM bolts!
#15
Registered

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 714
Likes: 4
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
Last edited by bajabob; 09-29-2011 at 05:46 PM.
#16
Registered

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 32
From: Oneida Lake NY
Was not lucky, it was the third shim I had tried out of the pack of 4.
#17
Registered

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 32
From: Oneida Lake NY

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.
#18
Registered

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 714
Likes: 4
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 !!
#19
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.
I want to see if this makes any difference in the motor turning over slower when the starter does decide to act up.
#20
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



