Birken Vogt
Charter Member
I got a unit in here with an 8.1 GM engine. Unknown history but the starter drive sounds like a little gravel running around in there. We suspected ring gear trouble but more than one noise per revolution.
The unit never sounded like it was missing any time being driven by the starter and we turned over the dead engine a fair bit trying to get a bead on what was happening. The problem may have gotten a little worse, read on.
Pulled the starter and right there looking at us was a freshly broken tooth off the ring gear. The starter spur gear looks perfect. The starter was freshly replaced by unknown parties for unknown reasons before we got it. It is an aftermarket unit with a Lester number on it. I suspect other teeth are broken too.
The wear pattern on the ring gear appears to indicate the spur gear only engaging about half way across the ring gear. The ring gear is installed as far forward on the flywheel as it can go.
I am thinking we will get the correct OE starter and ring gear so we are beginning with a known quantity here but wonder what others think about this. Halfway engagement depth seems like a bad idea but I don't see how it would cause a tooth to cleanly fracture off from one side to the other exactly.
The unit never sounded like it was missing any time being driven by the starter and we turned over the dead engine a fair bit trying to get a bead on what was happening. The problem may have gotten a little worse, read on.
Pulled the starter and right there looking at us was a freshly broken tooth off the ring gear. The starter spur gear looks perfect. The starter was freshly replaced by unknown parties for unknown reasons before we got it. It is an aftermarket unit with a Lester number on it. I suspect other teeth are broken too.
The wear pattern on the ring gear appears to indicate the spur gear only engaging about half way across the ring gear. The ring gear is installed as far forward on the flywheel as it can go.
I am thinking we will get the correct OE starter and ring gear so we are beginning with a known quantity here but wonder what others think about this. Halfway engagement depth seems like a bad idea but I don't see how it would cause a tooth to cleanly fracture off from one side to the other exactly.