Starter not contacting flywheel

spoolin7m

New Member
Jan 18, 2006
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Kansas City
Everything is finally getting close to being finished on the rebuild. However, when we put a battery in and tried to turn the motor over, the starter just spun itself. I don't understand how this could be? We tried troubleshooting the obvious culprits (ground, power, etc.) I even pulled the starter out and had it tested (it's in perfect working condition). I don't think the starter is contacting the flywheel for some reason. Does anyone know why this could be? The flywheel is aftermarket lightweight.
 

IBoughtASupra

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Mar 10, 2009
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Queens, NY
If you are cranking the engine and it is not turning, meaning the crank pulley is not moving, then the starter is not touching the flywheel.

This can be causes by the starter not being seated properly or I am not sure, but a wrong flywheel can cause it as well. Example, a W58 flywheel on a R154 gearbox. I am not sure about the wrong flywheel but it might happen. Check to see if the starter is seated properly. When it is seated you can barely shake it unless you remove it.
 

IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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I come from a land down under
IBoughtASupra;1603396 said:
If you are cranking the engine and it is not turning, meaning the crank pulley is not moving, then the starter is not touching the flywheel.

This can be causes by the starter not being seated properly or I am not sure, but a wrong flywheel can cause it as well. Example, a W58 flywheel on a R154 gearbox. I am not sure about the wrong flywheel but it might happen. Check to see if the starter is seated properly. When it is seated you can barely shake it unless you remove it.
Shouldn't make a difference as there's only one Starter for the 7M (2 but other than threaded mounting holes they're identical)

Sounds more like the Bendix isn't throwing the gear out.
 

spoolin7m

New Member
Jan 18, 2006
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Kansas City
What is the Bendix? I took the starter up to Advanced and they tested it. It popped out and spun fine. All of the gears look good as well. So I'm guessing it's the flywheel? It is an aftermarket lightweight one so that's what I'm leaning towards. Either that or wiring?
 

spoolin7m

New Member
Jan 18, 2006
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Kansas City
Ok, so I got a stock flywheel and just finished putting it in, bolted back up the tranny, put the starter back in, and tried to start it once again. The same thing happend! The starter just grinds on the flywheel! I have no idea why this is happening but am very, very frustrated. It seems that for some reason the starter just isn't catching the gears right?