Starter Issues - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**HeloCrewChief** · 09-10-2010, 06:05 AM

I recently picked up a 1969 C10. The owner told me it needed a starter. I installed a new starter and it started up fine the first time. As soon as I shut it off and went to start it again I heard the most horrible clanking/grinding noise. I went back to the auto parts store and tried a different starter. Same thing happened. I tried shimming the starter in all configurations and it made no difference. I also replaced the alternator,battery and battery cables. The truck will eventually start if you crank it over a few times but, it makes a horrible noise and shakes the whole starter bad. The flywheel looks good. Is it possible it is bent? Any ideas on what it could be

cdowns · 09-10-2010, 07:56 AM

easy to check for bent flywheel by turning engine over by hand and measuring

**GruntMoanCough** · 09-10-2010, 11:17 AM

Is your truck an automatic? If so, perhaps the flex plate is cracked....

**HeloCrewChief** · 09-10-2010, 06:54 PM

Looks like I will pull the transmission this weekend and take a peek.

gkesseru · 09-10-2010, 07:57 PM

Possible causes (if automatic): Bent flexplate, cracked block around the starter bolt holes, flexplate in backwards (like in the one I bought), damaged teeth on ring-gear.
I went through the same problem and 3 bendixes, two starters and one flexplate later I gave up and bought a Summit heavy duty flexplate and mini-starter. It needed no shims and works perfect now.

dirtyd_nd · 09-10-2010, 08:42 PM

Before you do that check your bolts compared to the starter. I was having the same problem. Two diff starters with shims and checked out the flex. The last time I pulled the starter I had the bolts sitting in it and noticed that there was a lot of play. Every two or three starts the starter was shifting and causing the glorious sound you are talking about. I could only find the bolts at a dealership that flared out above the treads and where the correct length. No problems since. If i remember correctly they were for an 89 Suburban. Oh and they were like $2 each. Hopefully your issues is as simple as mine was.

Dale

cparman · 09-10-2010, 08:54 PM

IMO, If you had a cracked flywheel, you would have a clacking noise with the engine running at idle. BTDT! This is a bit of a pain, but you should have 1/8" gap between the starter drive gear and the flywheel teeth. if you go to a starter/alternator manufactures site there will be info on this. Look carefully to see if the teeth on the flywheel seem to be shiny on the ends of the teeth. this would indicate that you might need a shim between the starter mounting holes and the starter. If you are not sure, buy a shim kit from your local parts store and try the thin one first, and see if it helps. Too much timing will also create havoc in the start up area. Check to see that the timing is ok ( its free, if you have a timing light ) HTH
Chip

**HeloCrewChief** · 09-12-2010, 06:25 PM

Well I replaced the flexplate this weekend and it seemed to solve the problem. I have started and drove the truck a dozen times and it starts great everytime. Thanks for all the great advice guys.

hotrodhomi · 09-12-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeloCrewChief

Well I replaced the flexplate this weekend and it seemed to solve the problem. I have started and drove the truck a dozen times and it starts great everytime. Thanks for all the great advice guys.

could you see a problem with it or did you just replace it?

**HeloCrewChief** · 09-12-2010, 08:01 PM

The only think I saw was when I layed it up against the new flexplate it did not lay perfectly flat. So I think it was bent or warped just a little.

09-10-2010, 06:05 AM	#1
HeloCrewChief Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North Alabama Posts: 1,057	Starter Issues I recently picked up a 1969 C10. The owner told me it needed a starter. I installed a new starter and it started up fine the first time. As soon as I shut it off and went to start it again I heard the most horrible clanking/grinding noise. I went back to the auto parts store and tried a different starter. Same thing happened. I tried shimming the starter in all configurations and it made no difference. I also replaced the alternator,battery and battery cables. The truck will eventually start if you crank it over a few times but, it makes a horrible noise and shakes the whole starter bad. The flywheel looks good. Is it possible it is bent? Any ideas on what it could be __________________ 1970 C10 to K20 conversion 1974 GMC Jimmy 1968 50th Anniversary Short Bed 1968 Chevelle 1964 Comet Caliente 1990 W250 Cummins

09-10-2010, 07:56 AM	#2
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Starter Issues easy to check for bent flywheel by turning engine over by hand and measuring __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

09-10-2010, 11:17 AM	#3
GruntMoanCough Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Pemberton, BC Posts: 1,075	Re: Starter Issues Is your truck an automatic? If so, perhaps the flex plate is cracked.... Attached Images __________________ My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am - Unknown

09-10-2010, 06:54 PM	#4
HeloCrewChief Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North Alabama Posts: 1,057	Re: Starter Issues Looks like I will pull the transmission this weekend and take a peek. __________________ 1970 C10 to K20 conversion 1974 GMC Jimmy 1968 50th Anniversary Short Bed 1968 Chevelle 1964 Comet Caliente 1990 W250 Cummins

09-10-2010, 07:57 PM	#5
gkesseru Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California, Maryland Posts: 544	Re: Starter Issues Possible causes (if automatic): Bent flexplate, cracked block around the starter bolt holes, flexplate in backwards (like in the one I bought), damaged teeth on ring-gear. I went through the same problem and 3 bendixes, two starters and one flexplate later I gave up and bought a Summit heavy duty flexplate and mini-starter. It needed no shims and works perfect now. __________________ 72 Fleet (died) 78 Step (sold) 55 Step named Fred (sold) 00 F150 68 Step (named El Scorcho by PO) Build thread for the new El Scorcho http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=392932

09-10-2010, 08:42 PM	#6
dirtyd_nd Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: JACKSONVILLE, FL Posts: 112	Re: Starter Issues Before you do that check your bolts compared to the starter. I was having the same problem. Two diff starters with shims and checked out the flex. The last time I pulled the starter I had the bolts sitting in it and noticed that there was a lot of play. Every two or three starts the starter was shifting and causing the glorious sound you are talking about. I could only find the bolts at a dealership that flared out above the treads and where the correct length. No problems since. If i remember correctly they were for an 89 Suburban. Oh and they were like $2 each. Hopefully your issues is as simple as mine was. Dale

09-10-2010, 08:54 PM	#7
cparman sharp as a marble Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: atlantic beach,florida Posts: 1,082	Re: Starter Issues IMO, If you had a cracked flywheel, you would have a clacking noise with the engine running at idle. BTDT! This is a bit of a pain, but you should have 1/8" gap between the starter drive gear and the flywheel teeth. if you go to a starter/alternator manufactures site there will be info on this. Look carefully to see if the teeth on the flywheel seem to be shiny on the ends of the teeth. this would indicate that you might need a shim between the starter mounting holes and the starter. If you are not sure, buy a shim kit from your local parts store and try the thin one first, and see if it helps. Too much timing will also create havoc in the start up area. Check to see that the timing is ok ( its free, if you have a timing light ) HTH Chip

09-12-2010, 06:25 PM	#8
HeloCrewChief Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North Alabama Posts: 1,057	Re: Starter Issues Well I replaced the flexplate this weekend and it seemed to solve the problem. I have started and drove the truck a dozen times and it starts great everytime. Thanks for all the great advice guys. __________________ 1970 C10 to K20 conversion 1974 GMC Jimmy 1968 50th Anniversary Short Bed 1968 Chevelle 1964 Comet Caliente 1990 W250 Cummins

09-12-2010, 08:01 PM	#10
HeloCrewChief Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North Alabama Posts: 1,057	Re: Starter Issues The only think I saw was when I layed it up against the new flexplate it did not lay perfectly flat. So I think it was bent or warped just a little. __________________ 1970 C10 to K20 conversion 1974 GMC Jimmy 1968 50th Anniversary Short Bed 1968 Chevelle 1964 Comet Caliente 1990 W250 Cummins

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