Shimming a starter

[Russell Fulks]

Hello all,

I recently posted that I was getting a grinding sound from my starter after firing the engine, and now it has gotten to the point that the vehicle will not start. The battery shows 12 volts (I don't know about cold cranking amps) and the starter starts to turn, but then quickly dies. By the way, my mechanic was bored one day while working on my car so he re-pegged my distributor to help it clear the open-element air filter. So, I was told that there was a good chance that my starter was not aligned correctly and that I should shim it.

My question is, how in the world do I shim the starter. I thought I would just crawl under the car with my big paper clip and make sure that the starter was engaging the flywheel with the right spacing, but boy was I wrong. What do I have to remove to inspect the flywheel spacing? I assume it's the flywheel cover but I have no idea what that looks like. I am mechanically inclined but I don't have a very extensive vocabulary.

Thanks to all in advance.

[Jim T.]

Re: Shimming a starter

Working on motors since about 63 I have never had to shim a starter. I do know that you could probably find starter shims at auto parts stores. I have seen them in blister packs.
From seeing them, all that they is provide a shim between the block of the engine and the starter, moving the starter closer to the ground.
I am sure an expert can post more.

[Jim T.]

Re: Shimming a starter

Working on motors since about 63 I have never had to shim a starter. I do know that you could probably find starter shims at auto parts stores. I have seen them in blister packs.
From seeing them, all that they is provide a shim between the block of the engine and the starter, moving the starter closer to the ground.
I am sure an expert can post more.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Shimming a starter

a lot of starter problems start with the wrong bolts used to bolt up the starter. make sure you have the bolts with the knurled shanks. another problem is not having the front brace from the starter to the block.if your starter has a threaded extension on one of the thru bolts on your starter you should have a front brace. if these 2 items are ok and the bendix is good try 1 shim at a time to see if it corrects your problem.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Shimming a starter

a lot of starter problems start with the wrong bolts used to bolt up the starter. make sure you have the bolts with the knurled shanks. another problem is not having the front brace from the starter to the block.if your starter has a threaded extension on one of the thru bolts on your starter you should have a front brace. if these 2 items are ok and the bendix is good try 1 shim at a time to see if it corrects your problem.

[Eric Fairclough]

Re: Shimming a starter

I have had alot of experience shimming on my 1970 chevelle motor in my iroc-z. The best way is to disconnect the battery and take the flywheel cover off then take the solinoid on the starter off so you can freely move the starter gear. look at the flywheel and make sure the starter gear matches good with the teeth on the flywheel. Keep adjusting the shims to make it match good. Don't make it tight though. You want to get about 3/4 of the starter teeth touch the flywheel teeth. Sometimes it take only 1 shim on 1 bolt to angle it just right. Also make sure they gave you the correct starter. I have been givin the wrong one in the past that looks the same but is cut a slight bit different.

[Eric Fairclough]

Re: Shimming a starter

I have had alot of experience shimming on my 1970 chevelle motor in my iroc-z. The best way is to disconnect the battery and take the flywheel cover off then take the solinoid on the starter off so you can freely move the starter gear. look at the flywheel and make sure the starter gear matches good with the teeth on the flywheel. Keep adjusting the shims to make it match good. Don't make it tight though. You want to get about 3/4 of the starter teeth touch the flywheel teeth. Sometimes it take only 1 shim on 1 bolt to angle it just right. Also make sure they gave you the correct starter. I have been givin the wrong one in the past that looks the same but is cut a slight bit different.

[Russell Fulks]

Re: Shimming a starter

The starter is the original starter so I think everything should be correct. Where exactly is the flywheel cover located and how do I remove it? Also, how do I remove the solenoid?

Thanks,

Russ Fulks

[Russell Fulks]

Re: Shimming a starter

The starter is the original starter so I think everything should be correct. Where exactly is the flywheel cover located and how do I remove it? Also, how do I remove the solenoid?

Thanks,

Russ Fulks

[ERIC FAIRCLO]

Re: Shimming a starter

The flywheel cover is a black metal dust shield roughly a foot wide and half a foot deep between the transmission and the oil pan. It is held on by 4 of 6 small bolts. You can see the head of the starter going inside this shield. To take the solinoid off the starter disconnect the battery and it is held on by 2 phillips head screws, one on each side and a small bolt that has a spacer on it. take these off and ( i also take off all the cables to have it completly out of my way, be sure you remember wich terminal they go back on) then pull the solinoid off there will also be a big spring in there. After it's out you can move the gear freely my usuing the actuator on the top of the starter and just take your time and shim it. I ended up using half of one shim and put it in on the starter bolt nearest to the rear of the car Beacuse mine needed angled. When you get it started listen for how loud it starts. If it is real loud that means it is chewing up the flywheel and it needs more shimming. Thanks Eric

[ERIC FAIRCLO]

Re: Shimming a starter

The flywheel cover is a black metal dust shield roughly a foot wide and half a foot deep between the transmission and the oil pan. It is held on by 4 of 6 small bolts. You can see the head of the starter going inside this shield. To take the solinoid off the starter disconnect the battery and it is held on by 2 phillips head screws, one on each side and a small bolt that has a spacer on it. take these off and ( i also take off all the cables to have it completly out of my way, be sure you remember wich terminal they go back on) then pull the solinoid off there will also be a big spring in there. After it's out you can move the gear freely my usuing the actuator on the top of the starter and just take your time and shim it. I ended up using half of one shim and put it in on the starter bolt nearest to the rear of the car Beacuse mine needed angled. When you get it started listen for how loud it starts. If it is real loud that means it is chewing up the flywheel and it needs more shimming. Thanks Eric

[Russell Fulks]

Re: Shimming a starter

Thanks for the details Eric. I am going to have the car up this weekend to replace the calipers so I figured I'd have a look at the starter as well. Thanks again,

Russ

[Russell Fulks]

Re: Shimming a starter

Thanks for the details Eric. I am going to have the car up this weekend to replace the calipers so I figured I'd have a look at the starter as well. Thanks again,

Russ

[Wayne C.]

Re: Shimming a starter

One note on removing the solenoid... if I remember right, after removing the solenoid fateners the solenoid has to be twisted on it's axis in order to free it to slide it out. I think there is a wide tang (like a partial collar) sticking out from it at one end that slides into a groove in the starter, and the twisting is needed to slide the tang out of the groove. Could be confusing to someone trying to do this the first time with the starter installed because you can't see what's holding the solenoid when you try to slide it. Also, it can be tough to reach the solenoid fasteners with the starter installed. It might be easier to remove the starter, take the solenoid off, replace the (now bare) starter and shim it, then note the shims and pull the starter, replace the solenoid, re-install the starter.

[Wayne C.]

Re: Shimming a starter

One note on removing the solenoid... if I remember right, after removing the solenoid fateners the solenoid has to be twisted on it's axis in order to free it to slide it out. I think there is a wide tang (like a partial collar) sticking out from it at one end that slides into a groove in the starter, and the twisting is needed to slide the tang out of the groove. Could be confusing to someone trying to do this the first time with the starter installed because you can't see what's holding the solenoid when you try to slide it. Also, it can be tough to reach the solenoid fasteners with the starter installed. It might be easier to remove the starter, take the solenoid off, replace the (now bare) starter and shim it, then note the shims and pull the starter, replace the solenoid, re-install the starter.