clicking noise while starter is engaged

[housebroken]

i noticed at the end of last season while cranking the engine over there is a clicking noise it almost sounds like the solenoid clicking but the engine turns over fine.today i took the cables off the starter and cleaned them although they were pretty clean.and i checked the connections at the battery switch and the batteries.it still makes the noise,oh by the way its a 87 260

 

[Don S]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

might have a look at the starter bendix teeth and the flywheel ring gear. A chipped tooth could cause the clicking.

 

[dodge1971340]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

HI !! this happend on my jet boat it was a chipped tooth on starter DON is right on!! GOOD DAY AND GOD BLESS!! GP

 

[housebroken]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

well i pulled the starter this morning everything looks fine.all the teeth are in good shape.it really does sound like the solenoid too hard to tell though.any other ideas don?

 

[housebroken]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

don someone on another forum mentioned springs in the trans coupler could be shot.what do you think?

 

[Bondo]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

You're going to Have to turn the motor over By Hand,.. A Tooth by Tooth Inspection of the Ring Gear is Needed.......<br /><br />You Don't really Say Exactly What we're talking about,.....Other than it's probably a 350 Chevy,......<br /><br />IF, by chance it's a Mercruiser, There is a Coupler,.. But it's Rubber Mounted,.... No Springs, like in a Flexplate.....

 

[housebroken]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

bondo yes its a mercruiser 260 hp 350.i pulled the starter and inspected flywheel teeth,turning the crankshaft over by hand.no springs eh,thats good to hear i guess,that other guy had me worried.this thing still has me baffled

 

[Bondo]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

Well,.........<br /><br />The Only other diagnosis Tool I can think of is the Old Broomstick In Your Ear............<br /><br />Have somebody try the starter,... <br />While You "Listen" to the various componets of the system by Touching your Ear to 1 end of the Stick,+ a componet to the Other.........<br /><br />Eventually,....... You'll Find the Clicking..........

 

[Don S]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

The broomstick in the ear will work, or you can actually buy a mechanics stethoscope from NAPA for about 10 bucks.<br />Did you look at the bendix on the starter to make sure it was ok also? I have heard starters make noise because the comutator end is coming apart.<br />When describing sounds, the speed of the sound also makes a lot of difference. What makes a noise once every complete revolution of the engine would be completely different than sometbing that is clicking 5 to 10 times per revolution, and what is one mans click is another knock.

 

[housebroken]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

the starter appeared to be fine it is a erattic click probably 4-7 or so every revolution.i had my son repeatedly crank the engine with the feed wire to the coil pulled so i could get right at the starter and feel and listen its coming from the starter but its really hard to pinpoint.other than the noise everything works fine.i dont want to buy a new starter to have the problem persist,yet i dont want to get towed in either.last year i changed both of those butterfly valves in the exhaust,i guess theyre like backflow preventers,i cant remember but it seemed like that side was missing could it have fallen down in somewhere and be making the noise?

 

[rob935]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

if you take the starter out and bring it to an auto electrician they can usually test the starter on a bench and give you a diagnosis there and then, have you checked your battery for a full charge sometimes if its as high as 80% it may not be enough to crank properly resulting in a clicking sound!!

 

[Don S]

Re: clicking noise while starter is engaged

It's not your flappers. Since the noise is coming from the starter and the ring gear on the flywheel is ok. Well, that kind of narrows it down to the starter. Repair/Replace the starter or live with the noise and hope it doesn't break down is about the only choices you have as I see it.