Why is my starter hitting my flywheel?

Why is my starter hitting my flywheel?

Sounds like somehow the bolts got loosened, or the starter was removed for some reason and the shims were not installed between the starter and the block. If it’s removing metal from both the starter and the flywheel, it needs to be shimmed away from the starter. You can get these shims a any auto parts store.

Can a starter damage a flywheel?

Since the starter motor pinion material is softer than the flywheel, it is highly unlikely that the starter would ever damage the flywheel teeth. In any event, the fault was obviously present prior to the replacement of the starter.

How much can you shim a SBC starter?

Usage of one shim on inboard bolt only, will provide greater clearance. Note: Do not use more than 3 shims on either side. When installing replacement starter motor: DO NOT use an impact gun or breaker bar to tighten bolts!

What are the symptoms of a bad flywheel?

If your flywheel is going bad, a smooth pedal is not what you will feel. You may feel vibration as soon as you place your foot on the clutch or when you press down on the clutch. The vibration tends to get stronger as you push on or engage the clutch pedal.

Is it okay to drive with a bad flywheel?

Yes, sometimes you will get away with driving with a bad flywheel, it all depends on how badly damaged the flywheel is. If you suspect that there is a problem with the clutch, then you should get it checked out as soon as you can. In most cases, a bad flywheel is eventually going to leave you stranded.

What happens if you don’t shim a starter?

If you start your car without a shim, your car may sound like starter cranks and loud sound. You need to use a shim to avoid noises that the starter emits. There may be the many reasons for the starter noise including the starter may be too far or too close to flywheel teeth, loose mounting bolts and much more.

What happens if the starter is too close to the flywheel?

Typically, a new starter will make noise when it’s positioned too close to the ring gear on the flexplate or flywheel. Installing thin, steel shims between the block and starter is the method to eliminate the noise. Another problem that may cause starter noise is an out-of-round flexplate.

How do you know if you need a new flywheel?

Can you drive with bad flywheel?

Yes, sometimes you will get away with driving with a bad flywheel, it all depends on how badly damaged the flywheel is. If you suspect that there is a problem with the clutch, then you should get it checked out as soon as you can. A damaged flywheel can also make an engine more difficult to start.

Why is my starter too far from the flywheel?

If the starter skips as it is turning the engine, your starter could be too far from the flexplate/flywheel. You could have the wrong starter nose cone, or if you are using shims, remove as many as it takes to get the proper clearance.

Why does my Chevy starter whine when I turn it on?

You could have the wrong starter nose cone, or if you are using shims, remove as many as it takes to get the proper clearance. If the starter emits a high-pitched whine as the engine is turning over, more clearance is required. Add shims.

What should clearance be between gears on Chevy starter?

A rule of thumb is that there should be .030-inch of clearance between the gears when the starter is engaged. In a pinch, a paper clip makes a great gauge for this adjustment.

How many cones do you need for a Chevy starter?

For starters (no pun intended), let’s look at the nose cones. Unless you consider the early starters that used three bolts, and attached to the bell housing, there were basically two nose cones that you need to know about. Most blocks come predrilled for use with either starter, which can lead to confusion.