shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

[delsol]

got a question my starter starts fine but dont seem to mess smooth. do you shim these starters on a 350 gm 89 . if so how. it a mini hi torqe one
bob

 

[rodbolt]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

occasionally.
bad thing on a boat you usually have to do it by ear.
I start with a .015" shim and listen for the screech of a starter pinion engaging to deep in the flywheel teeth.if its stil there I go up a shim size.

 

[Don S]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

NO shims.

 

[wire2]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

There was a post on starter shims 7-10 days ago. I believe it was Don S who wrote that Merc hasn't put shims on a starter for the last 20 years.

Why do you feel that yours isn't meshing properly? Are the teeth damaged? Can you get a camera in there and take some pictures?

 

[wire2]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

Dang! You're too fast for me Don. Or I have to type faster. lol

 

[delsol]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

it just never was right from the shop. i had a new starter gear put on. its better now but, not the way it should be, i think maybe they put the wrong flywheel or starter on????
when i got boat back it was making weird sound. then it would not work . i had starter shop change new gear on the starter and it sounds way better, but not quite right. flywheel looks great????
bob

 

[delsol]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

shop put a used nice flywheel on motor with new starter. this is my second drive gear. its not perfect like it should be and if i dont find out whats wrong i will have to put in another drive gear
bob

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

In 25 years I've only had to shim one GM starter. Now I don't why you have to in the automotive market and not the marine, but you don't. But I did have one a few years ago that just wouldn't work unless shimmed.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

dunno why but I get the odd one, usually when using a non-OEM starter or a reman. but yes occasionally due to production stacked tolerances the pinion will mesh to deep. the preferable method,but not always practicle, is to try another starter.
years ago ya had to shim almost any reman due to the reman folks liked to remachine the housing to block pad.

 

[delsol]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

thanks guys . i got it in the shop. i am going to ask shop to see what they think..maybe just 1 shim or so will make a big difference
bob

 

[Silvertip]

Re: shimming a starter on a 5.7 89

Shims are available at many auto parts stores like NAPA. They are simply flat stock about an inch wide with a notch on one end that slips around one starter mounting bolt, and another hole that matches with the second bolt. Use a tin snips to notch that second hole so you don't need to actually remove the bolts to slip it in place. Just loosen the bolts a little, slip the far end in and then pivot the shim into place. Tighten the bolts. I also agree that shims are needed more often when installing a rebuilt starter than on a new installation. Some of the rebuilts have been rebuilt so many times that even the bead blasting of the casting removes enough metal to screw up alignment. In the auto world, even years back, rebuilt starters had a shim or two in the box.