4.3lx flywheel?

[mattie_k]

I had an unfortunate experience with a hydrolocked engine (chopped the throttle, my bad!)this spring and got that sorted just fine thanks to some help here (thanks again Don) but ever since it seems to grind as the starter is engaged. I'm thinking it's probably some buggered up teeth on the flywheel and would like to know if anyone has ever changed this on thier 4.3lx before. Is it a difficult task or do I need to pull the motor. I am going to pull the starter off and take a look soon. It does seem to start fine, just a little noisy.

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: 4.3lx flywheel?

To change the flywheel you will have to pull the engine.

 

[Don S]

Re: 4.3lx flywheel?

Once you get the flywheel off (Yea, you gotta pull the engine) you only have to replace the ring gear, not the complete flywheel. Just remove the old one with a hammer and punch, heat the new one so it expands and drop it over the flywheel. When it cools, put the flywheel back on and your set to go.<br />NAPA normally carries Chevy ring gears here.<br />Recheck the starter bendix also, a bad ring gear can also damage the teeth on it.

 

[muc]

Re: 4.3lx flywheel?

Might want to check the starter mounting bolts to see if they're bent --- kind of common after a hydro-lock.

 

[mattie_k]

Re: 4.3lx flywheel?

Checking the starter tonight! I do think that the bolts are bent after my experience today. She wouldn't even turn over at first, checked the starter and it was loose enough to wiggle it by hand. Tightened up the 2 bolts and presto she fired right up, still sounded a little grindy though. Luckily I have a OEM starter with bad brushes that I can borrow parts from.<br /><br />How would I go about heating up the ring gear Don, propane torch?

 

[RandyJ]

Re: 4.3lx flywheel?

My experience with ring gears and starter drives is to replace both at the same time. Some starters come with a wire 1/8" in diameter to check clearance between starter end and ring gear. Of course, this was on my chevy pick up truck and you might be different or luckier on a mercruiser. I can also attest to the fact that Chevy made metric and non metric starters that look exactly the same but if not matched to the proper ring gear will eat up the teeth on it.

 

[mattie_k]

Re: 4.3lx flywheel?

Eat the teeth eh? No good. What I now know is that the starter bolts were bent, and that 2 teeth on the ring gear are sheared off. with about 3 or 4 teeth between them. <br /><br />Should I let it slide?

 

[mattie_k]

Re: 4.3lx flywheel?

Not going to let it slide, new ring gear it is! What is the engine code for my 1996 Mercruiser 4.3LX with vortec on the valve covers? The guys at the NAPA need to know if its a "W" or a "X" code engine, something to do with balancing?