Hi all,

After getting the engine running, I had a few starter issues. Some cranks the starter would just spin and when it did engage it sounded like it was still meshed in the flywheel.

I put 12v on the starter to engage the plunger (but not spin) and the starter gear hits the flywheel. I can lever the gear to mesh with the flywheel but it seems the tolerances are too tight between the starter teeth and the flywheel teeth as once the gear is meshed it won’t return when released.

I have had this starter since the rebuild on the engine run stand and it hasn’t misfired once. I did read the an old flywheel can cause a few meshing issues.

Has anyone had any experience with powermaster starters?

-272
-59 truck
-4speed





Engaged


Disengaged



Just noticed that there is wear on the flywheel Teeth on the opposite side to the starter. Could I have possibly put the flywheel on the wrong way?




Thanks, Dennis.

56 F100 - 272 Y Block
NSW, Australia.

yes i would check which way you have the ring gear facing, goodluck

Dennis, looking at the second picture it looks like the starter flange has a gap where it meets the starter motor by that allen bolt. Could it be that there is an interference with the block on the other side? I had to grind some clearance on my mini starter to get it to fit and clamp down tight to the bellhousing.

  Vic Correnti

Dennis, as for the flywheel teeth wear, the original starters engaged from the transmission side so that is where the wear appears to be so I would say the flywheel is on right and this starter engaged from the side of the flywheel closest to the engine.

  Vic Correnti

Besides possible alignment issues, the 3rd picture shows the starter pinion is only engaging about half the width of the flywheel ring gear. What you refer to as "wear" is a bevel to help with engagement of the original Y-bloc starter. I have have no experience with these modern starters so I'm not sure how sensitive it is to the lack of tooth bevel. If the ring gear was flipped over, this would put the bevel on the opposite side of the tooth which is worth considering. I was under the impression these starters were plug & play but remember reading in past threads of alignment issues.  Hope this helps, JEFF...........


64F100 57FAIRLANE500

Dennis,
Try using a shim on the left side of the starter.
Tim
Waiting Room for Heaven
Florida 33706

Not on solving your alignment which you may not have since it does contact 1/2 of the gear. but the distance between the starter gear at the rest position is a lot too much in my opinion. The engagement of the starter gear on the ring gear is not enough.
Many years ago when these small starters were new and were popular for the C word and I wanted one on a C word 1957 6 cylinder 2 bolt bellhousing I had one made by coping the original cast iron starter dimensions. I changed flywheels and had this exact problem. Had to take the machined aluminum adapter I had made off the unit and remove metal off it to bring the whole starter/gear combo closer to the flywheel gear while at rest. It worked for many years.
Strangely enough I’ve built an engine with a stock flywheel and now need to move it back. I’m lucky there is a spot for a shim between the starter motor and the aluminum made plate. Sorry this so long.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I've had some doubts about so called high torque mini starters for some time. 1st, all original Y-Blk starters engage from the rear side of the flywheel. Hence they are larger heavier units. As far as I know, all mini starters engage from the front, although I admit I'm not sure of details on the various engagement mechanisms. (I'd like to have how that all works explained to me)   A concern is that the flywheel tabs for the ring gear are behind it. So, the mini starter's are engaged into the front side of the gear where it has no tab support, & the teeth on the ring gear may not be an ideal fit.. A potential nasty Ring gear failure can & has occasionally happened apparently. .      


Paul

Thanks Vic, the starter clears but I clocked it anyway to gain more clearance.

Yeah ok, well that explains the tooth wear!


Thanks, Dennis.

56 F100 - 272 Y Block
NSW, Australia.

Thanks for the info Jeff! The starter engages further, just didn’t have a spare hand to hold the light and take the photo and pry the gear out further.


Thanks, Dennis.

56 F100 - 272 Y Block
NSW, Australia.