Eating starters

[Rman]

My 87 Wrangler is eating starters left and right. This is a re-built 258, 4 years old. I've had the flywheel replaced once already and have replaced starters probably half a dozen times. The last starter lasted only 2 weeks. I can't figure it out. My mechanic can't figure it out. We've tried various types of shims, etc. Makes a really loud noise when you try to start it, ocassionally accompanied by a loud bang. It seems like it is slipping against the flywheel and the wear on the gears seems to support that.

It seems like it has got to be a geometry problem between the starter gears and the flywheel. I've tried two different kinds of starters, no difference. Everybody is telling me that there's only one flywheel and one starter for this vehicle.

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[buddie22]

I have had this problem and i had to try several diferent rebuilt starters because when the rebuild them because they machune the mating surface they dont seem to do it very acurateley then i still had to play with the shims .last time i found one that worked i took the measurement on thickness where the bolts go through and wrote it down for the next time.I will measure mine and give it to you in the morning im into the beer now

good luck

 

[88Wrangles]

Ya, it's not lineing up correctly.

The cone on the end might need to be ground down (I've had to do that many a time), might need to grind some off the mating surfaces, or all kinds of other things....

It's tough, but you'll need to get in there somehow and see exactly where it is off.

 

[Robrt-Stephens]

You may have a bent main shaft from the engine. Your problem is not common. When this cocurs, it is best to replace the flywheel and bendix at the same time and test for wear--Use factory parts. Do not mix-match the bendix and flywheel with third party parts.

If you then meet with bad wear or failure, you know the main is bent and this will have to be replaced and that will cure the problem. Time consuming, but fixes this vexing problem.

Hope that helps you.

Robert

 

[88Wrangles]

RE: thx

Also, I'd take the inspection cover off and have someone turn the engine over by hand. Watch and see if the flywheel is bent at all or if any damage is done to any of the teeth.

 

[MikeB]

Need help

i had the same problem with my 87, finally i went out and found an original starter for it, havent had any problems since, buying an original starter was a little more expensive than a rebuilt but you end up saving money in the long run

 

[agentrhodes81]

RE: Rusty

I have had this problem with my 1990 wrangler. All I did was loosin the top bolt to the starer and the transmission and it stopped making noise and fitted right in. Reason was cause because the bolt ended up expanding and when u tightened it all the way it became to tight and started to grind. so loosin it up a little. try that first

 

[Rman]

Finally figured it out. The lower mounting bolt hole for the starter was just a little bit loose. Not the bolt, but the hole. Wasn't much, maybe 1/8 of an inch, but enough to affect the fit of the starter gear against the flywheel. Drilled, retapped for next larger size (metric) bolt. Everything fine now.

 

[blown67]

Mine is also a problem, what a shitty design, It sounds like the gear is meshing to deep to the flywheel, and there is no way to shim it away..........
I am thinking off drilling out the lower mounting hole so I can let it pivot on the top one so it can swing away from the flywheel giving it the clerance it needs, kind of a hack fix but what the hell else can I do........