How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

[Hogger]

I know I need to replace my ring gear, but how does it look?
Does it look like when it's all put back together, that the starter might need to be shimmed? If so, can you tell which way, or could there be another cause?

Trying to get info to avoid this in the future.

 

[Banditz]

Re: How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

Well it isnt good. BUT you can salvage it. Rotate the motor slowly by hand with a wrench. While cleaning the teeth the best you can to get those metal teeth clean again. then when you install the new starter, remove a shim or two till you get the correct spacing. EASY way to do this, put a small bit of wax or clay on the fly wheel, very small. Then install the starter tight. Once thats done remove it and see the imprint on the wax or clay. Clay works better for this case. Then shim until the starter is correct. Right now, it looks like you were out to far. But likely, it was just a result of the starter goin bad.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

Your flywheel looks like junk. I hope you are replacing it, as it needs to be done.

Did your starter come loose and it just kept grinding away at the teeth?

 

[Adirondack]

Re: How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

Well it isnt good. BUT you can salvage it. Rotate the motor slowly by hand with a wrench. While cleaning the teeth the best you can to get those metal teeth clean again. then when you install the new starter, remove a shim or two till you get the correct spacing. EASY way to do this, put a small bit of wax or clay on the fly wheel, very small. Then install the starter tight. Once thats done remove it and see the imprint on the wax or clay. Clay works better for this case. Then shim until the starter is correct. Right now, it looks like you were out to far. But likely, it was just a result of the starter goin bad.

I'm with Banditz. Providing the image is of the heaviest damage on the ring gear, it's usable. I have seen worse. New starter set in as deep as possible without binding. After dressing up the teeth a bit you won't even notice it.

 

[Aloysius]

Re: How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

I'd certainly get a new starter, or at least replace the bendix. The starter gear teeth are probably also worn. Try adjusting the starter first..got nothing to lose.

I'll assume you've got a starter that bolts to the block..old style. Be SURE and use REAL starter bolts with the knurled shank.

 

[Hogger]

Re: How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

I am going to replace the ring gear on the flywheel. And I do have a new starter.
Funny thing is, the gear on the old starter looks fine, and it was secure against the block. I always thought that the starter teeth go first.
So I'm thinking the previous owner didn't set the starter in the right position.

Banditz - Great idea with the clay. I'm going to try that.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

That ring gear is toast. No cleaning up is going to save it. Too much material gone.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: How does my flywheel look? Can I prevent this from happening again?

EASY way to do this, put a small bit of wax or clay on the fly wheel, very small. Then install the starter tight. Once thats done remove it and see the imprint on the wax or clay. Clay works better for this case. Then shim until the starter is correct. Right now, it looks like you were out to far. But likely, it was just a result of the starter goin bad.

Please explain this procedure more. Since the gear on the starter isn't engaged with the ring gear while not starting, how were you planning on determining the gap? Also, usually, when the ring gear gets like this, its because the gear on the starter is too close to the ring gear and doesn't engage fully. Not the other way around.