What would cause the starter to NOT engage the Flexplate? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TIMSPEED · 10-08-2003, 03:09 PM

OTHER than the flexplate being bent? The shop that put my flexplate in said it's NOT bent, so...I looked under the truck last night while my friend bumped the starter, and I WATCHED the pinion gear go ALL the way out and NOT engage the flexplate..so...

Any ideas? The starter has a ALOT of shims on the outside mounting pad (like 3/4" worth of washers!) Should I replace the starter? (It's a lifetime warranty from Kragen's, but it DOES spin, so I'd have a hard time getting a new one...) Maybe replace the battery cables?
AHHHH! HELP!

Prerunner1982 · 10-08-2003, 03:38 PM

is the flexplate new? maybe wrong flexplate? smaller? try it with NO shims. see what happens... i have never had to use that many. 1 maybe... most of the times 0.

TIMSPEED · 10-08-2003, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Prerunner1982
is the flexplate new? maybe wrong flexplate? smaller? try it with NO shims. see what happens... i have never had to use that many. 1 maybe... most of the times 0.

The shop that installed my flexplate, setup the shims...But I called them a few minutes ago, and they said i might have to take it to a speciality shop, that does nothing BUT shim starters...Cuz they were stumped on what could be wrong also...
The Flexplate, and starter are both new, both the correct parts for the truck...

Prerunner1982 · 10-08-2003, 03:55 PM

i would try unshimming it before spending $$$$$ on a "specialty shop" which by the way i have never heard of one that just shims starters!

**Captkaos** · 10-08-2003, 03:58 PM

Pull all of those shims out, and start with none. A jim clip is usually a good clearance checker. What does the teeth look like on the flexplate? It sounds like you need to get a quality starter. I have never had any luck out of rebuilt starters from alot of places.

TIMSPEED · 10-08-2003, 05:02 PM

Well, I got it to finally start, after much playing with. I have no idea why it does this crap. When I start it, it sounds BAD, like it's grinding or something. I FINALLY got it to fire up, after it not engaging a few times and me having to move the flexplate with my hand, so it would engage. It seems stupid.

boataddict26 · 10-08-2003, 05:11 PM

I had a starter off of a 79 that I put on my 78 a couple days ago. I got it all hooked up and bumped the key a few times. It did the same thing you are describing. I put my old starter back on and it fired right up. (old starter makes funny noise) I called the local starter shop and they told me that the starters I have are different. Even though they came off trucks with the exact engines. The starters were for different size flexplates.

RiverCityChevy · 10-08-2003, 05:13 PM

Ok there are different starters for your year truck just like there is for mine. You have 3 different starter applications for that truck. One for standard transmissiuon.two for automatic, one is larger than the other, I went tru this same stuff with mine.is the starter new or old.the cone where it engages the flexplate is different in all 3
mine made a terrible grinding noise, until I got the correct starter..just a little Oreilly knowleadge.you should never need more than 1 or 2 thin shims...Ever
...Jim

TIMSPEED · 10-08-2003, 06:56 PM

Hmm...I would also imagine that the starter is the wrong one...Because that's what I thought too, you should NEVER EVER need shims on a SBC...

TIMSPEED · 10-08-2003, 07:05 PM

Do you remember what part # it was for the starter?

soleeagle · 10-09-2003, 12:36 AM

I have the same problem on my '85. I guess ill check the starter too since the flywheel is new. I didnt have the problem before I took and rebuilt the motor and installed the new flywheel.

10-08-2003, 03:09 PM	#1
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	What would cause the starter to NOT engage the Flexplate? OTHER than the flexplate being bent? The shop that put my flexplate in said it's NOT bent, so...I looked under the truck last night while my friend bumped the starter, and I WATCHED the pinion gear go ALL the way out and NOT engage the flexplate..so... Any ideas? The starter has a ALOT of shims on the outside mounting pad (like 3/4" worth of washers!) Should I replace the starter? (It's a lifetime warranty from Kragen's, but it DOES spin, so I'd have a hard time getting a new one...) Maybe replace the battery cables? AHHHH! HELP! __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

10-08-2003, 03:38 PM	#2
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	is the flexplate new? maybe wrong flexplate? smaller? try it with NO shims. see what happens... i have never had to use that many. 1 maybe... most of the times 0. __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

10-08-2003, 03:55 PM	#4
Prerunner1982 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmond, OK Posts: 5,904	i would try unshimming it before spending $$$$$ on a "specialty shop" which by the way i have never heard of one that just shims starters! __________________ Jon 1982 Chevy Silverado 350/th350.... RETIRED 1993 Jeep XJ 2 door(Cherokee) 4wd 4.0ltr/AX-15 (5spd)/NP231 .... Oklahoma Roll Call

10-08-2003, 03:58 PM	#5
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Pull all of those shims out, and start with none. A jim clip is usually a good clearance checker. What does the teeth look like on the flexplate? It sounds like you need to get a quality starter. I have never had any luck out of rebuilt starters from alot of places. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

10-08-2003, 05:02 PM	#6
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Well, I got it to finally start, after much playing with. I have no idea why it does this crap. When I start it, it sounds BAD, like it's grinding or something. I FINALLY got it to fire up, after it not engaging a few times and me having to move the flexplate with my hand, so it would engage. It seems stupid. __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

10-08-2003, 05:11 PM	#7
boataddict26 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Central Florida Posts: 726	I had a starter off of a 79 that I put on my 78 a couple days ago. I got it all hooked up and bumped the key a few times. It did the same thing you are describing. I put my old starter back on and it fired right up. (old starter makes funny noise) I called the local starter shop and they told me that the starters I have are different. Even though they came off trucks with the exact engines. The starters were for different size flexplates. __________________ 1978 Chevy C10 Currently under resto. 350 Getting face lift. .060, JEpistons, Modify heads. More will come with money.

10-08-2003, 05:13 PM	#8
RiverCityChevy You want it when??? Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: I live in memphis,tenn. been here for almost 30 years. Posts: 144	starter trouble Ok there are different starters for your year truck just like there is for mine. You have 3 different starter applications for that truck. One for standard transmissiuon.two for automatic, one is larger than the other, I went tru this same stuff with mine.is the starter new or old.the cone where it engages the flexplate is different in all 3 mine made a terrible grinding noise, until I got the correct starter..just a little Oreilly knowleadge.you should never need more than 1 or 2 thin shims...Ever ...Jim __________________ RiverCityChevy The more Hondas I see the more I love my Chevy Truck. If you're not out front the view never changes.

10-08-2003, 06:56 PM	#9
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Hmm...I would also imagine that the starter is the wrong one...Because that's what I thought too, you should NEVER EVER need shims on a SBC... __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

10-08-2003, 07:05 PM	#10
TIMSPEED Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Modesto, CA Posts: 1,321	Do you remember what part # it was for the starter? __________________ I have a few cars... See Them Here

10-09-2003, 12:36 AM	#11
soleeagle Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Shelbyville, Indiana Posts: 614	I have the same problem on my '85. I guess ill check the starter too since the flywheel is new. I didnt have the problem before I took and rebuilt the motor and installed the new flywheel. __________________ Chuck '85 Chevy Silverado 4X4 '91 Chevy 4X4 Suburban http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/545941

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