C1 & C2 Corvettes General C1 Corvette & C2 Corvette Discussion, Technical Info, Performance Upgrades, Project Builds, Restorations

Starting issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 05-09-2019, 03:43 PM
  #1  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default Starting issues

Getting an occasional loud shriek and no engine turnover when I try to start my 64’. Battery is new and cables all clean. It happened a few weeks ago after the car had been sitting a while. Today it happened after a hot restart with the AC compressor engaged. The ringear shows one bad section (in photo) but the rest isn’t bad.

Is it worth changing out the starter drive to see if it solves the issue? I really don’t want to have swap out the ringear!


Ring gear bad section
Old 05-09-2019, 03:48 PM
  #2  
Factoid
Le Mans Master

 
Factoid's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2018
Location: San Antonio, TX/Mahopac, NY
Posts: 8,411
Received 5,589 Likes on 2,812 Posts
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Winner - Modified
Default

Sounds like the solenoid didn’t engage the pinion to the ring gear. Happens. If it does it again, rap on the solenoid with the handle of a screw driver or rock the car with the tranny in gear. Those ring gear teeth don’t look bad to me.
Old 05-09-2019, 03:52 PM
  #3  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Factoid
Sounds like the solenoid didn’t engage the pinion to the ring gear. Happens. If it does it again, rap on the solenoid with the handle of a screw driver or rock the car with the tranny in gear. Those ring gear teeth don’t look bad to me.
Thanks Factoid but is there something I can replace on the starter to prevent this? I KNOW this will happen again on one of the few times that my wife uses the car!
Old 05-09-2019, 03:52 PM
  #4  
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner

 
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,062
Received 7,084 Likes on 4,737 Posts
Army

Default

You might get lucky with the solenoid or starter drive, but it doesn't take much rounded off teeth on the ring gear to cause problems...
I had to replace the one on my '61..


Old 05-09-2019, 03:54 PM
  #5  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
You might get lucky with the solenoid or starter drive, but it doesn't take much rounded off teeth on the ring gear to cause problems...
I had to replace the one on my '61..
Ok, I’ll give it a try. Thanks.
Old 05-09-2019, 04:21 PM
  #6  
ClothSeats
Drifting
 
ClothSeats's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2019
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 1,868
Received 797 Likes on 515 Posts
Default

I would try replacing the starter drive first. If you think the ring gear is the problem, I believe it can be turned around rather than buy a new one. That is assuming all the gears are in good shape on the other side of the ring gear.
Old 05-09-2019, 04:22 PM
  #7  
Tampa Jerry
Le Mans Master
 
Tampa Jerry's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: Temple Terrace Florida
Posts: 5,592
Received 1,334 Likes on 966 Posts

Default

You may get some life out of it if you replace the Bendix gear. I had to replace the flywheel ring gear on my 68. Cheap and easy to do except for pulling the tranny, pressure plate and clutch . Jerry
Old 05-09-2019, 04:22 PM
  #8  
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner

 
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,062
Received 7,084 Likes on 4,737 Posts
Army

Default

Originally Posted by ClothSeats
I would try replacing the starter drive first. If you think the ring gear is the problem, I believe it can be turned around rather than buy a new one. That is assuming all the gears are in good shape on the other side of the ring gear.
Yes - you can "flip" the gear if it hasn't been done already...
Old 05-09-2019, 04:24 PM
  #9  
MikeM
Team Owner
 
MikeM's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,844 Likes on 1,398 Posts

Default

Ring gear looks very bad to me.

You might try putting an edge back on the ring gear teeth and see if that helps. I've never tried it.

Last edited by MikeM; 05-09-2019 at 04:25 PM.
Old 05-09-2019, 04:26 PM
  #10  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ClothSeats
I would try replacing the starter drive first. If you think the ring gear is the problem, I believe it can be turned around rather than buy a new one. That is assuming all the gears are in good shape on the other side of the ring gear.
The other side of the ring gear is like new. It’s the flipping it around part that has me annoyed !!! hopefully, the starter drive replacement will fix it, at least for awhile. Been looking at the underside of this car for far too long...
The following users liked this post:
ClothSeats (05-09-2019)
Old 05-09-2019, 04:28 PM
  #11  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by MikeM
Ring gear looks very bad to me.

You might try putting an edge back on the ring gear teeth and see if that helps. I've never tried it.
Like running a file over them ?
Old 05-09-2019, 04:40 PM
  #12  
Frankie the Fink
Team Owner

 
Frankie the Fink's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2007
Posts: 58,062
Received 7,084 Likes on 4,737 Posts
Army

Default

Originally Posted by JFP58
The other side of the ring gear is like new. It’s the flipping it around part that has me annoyed !!! hopefully, the starter drive replacement will fix it, at least for awhile. Been looking at the underside of this car for far too long...
The issue is getting it out - once removed its a matter of flipping it with a heating and cooling process IIRC....not my area of expertise but others will know the process...
Old 05-09-2019, 04:44 PM
  #13  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink
The issue is getting it out - once removed its a matter of flipping it with a heating and cooling process IIRC....not my area of expertise but others will know the process...
Without a lift it would be a real PITA for me to do this. Would probably have to farm it out to a pro. Hopefully, a new bendix drive will fix it, at least for a while.
Old 05-09-2019, 05:09 PM
  #14  
GTOguy
Race Director
 
GTOguy's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2015
Location: Fresno California
Posts: 17,506
Received 3,443 Likes on 2,113 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by JFP58
Without a lift it would be a real PITA for me to do this. Would probably have to farm it out to a pro. Hopefully, a new bendix drive will fix it, at least for a while.
Try the new Bendix drive. If that doesn't work, have a NEW ring gear installed. Not worth all that labor to pull the trans and try to jury-rig the old ring gear. I agree with Mike M: your ring gear is rough with a lot of chipped teeth. Indicative of an improperly shimmed starter and or a bad Bendix not engaging properly.
Old 05-09-2019, 05:16 PM
  #15  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by GTOguy
Try the new Bendix drive. If that doesn't work, have a NEW ring gear installed. Not worth all that labor to pull the trans and try to jury-rig the old ring gear. I agree with Mike M: your ring gear is rough with a lot of chipped teeth. Indicative of an improperly shimmed starter and or a bad Bendix not engaging properly.
Agree on the ring gear replacement if the bendix drive doesn’t resolve the issue. It would only be a small additional cost in a professional repair job.
Old 05-09-2019, 05:48 PM
  #16  
ClothSeats
Drifting
 
ClothSeats's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2019
Location: Northern Wisconsin
Posts: 1,868
Received 797 Likes on 515 Posts
Default

JFP, I think those peened-over areas of the gear teeth will be too hard to file. You might have better success with a diamond grinding bit for your Dremmel tool. There are several styles to pick from. Here is one: Diamond Grinding Tool
Old 05-09-2019, 05:49 PM
  #17  
MikeM
Team Owner
 
MikeM's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2003
Location: Greenville, Indiana
Posts: 26,118
Received 1,844 Likes on 1,398 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by JFP58
Like running a file over them ?

Or some kind of abrasive tool to restore the edge. Like a lawn mower blade.

When an engine stops turning when you turn the key off, seems like the crankshaft always wants to stop in the same place(s). That can wear the ring gear in one place. A bad starter drive would make the problem worse.

Get notified of new replies

To Starting issues

Old 05-09-2019, 06:34 PM
  #18  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ClothSeats
JFP, I think those peened-over areas of the gear teeth will be too hard to file. You might have better success with a diamond grinding bit for your Dremmel tool. There are several styles to pick from. Here is one: Diamond Grinding Tool
Thanks ClothSeats. I’ll try a file first and go with a diamond grinding tool if needed.
Old 05-09-2019, 06:36 PM
  #19  
JFP58
Instructor
Thread Starter
 
JFP58's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2018
Location: Frisco, Texas
Posts: 206
Received 15 Likes on 13 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by MikeM
Or some kind of abrasive tool to restore the edge. Like a lawn mower blade.

When an engine stops turning when you turn the key off, seems like the crankshaft always wants to stop in the same place(s). That can wear the ring gear in one place. A bad starter drive would make the problem worse.
Yeah, seems like that happening since most of the teeth look fine. The really messed up ones are only in one area.
Old 05-10-2019, 01:17 AM
  #20  
Gary's '66
Melting Slicks
Support Corvetteforum!
 
Gary's '66's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2012
Location: Wilton Ca.
Posts: 3,115
Received 192 Likes on 162 Posts

Default



Quick Reply: Starting issues



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:06 PM.