As some of you know, I've been dealing with an on going starter problem. I tried adding and removing shims, adding a better ground (2 actually), new bolts, a new instead of rebuilt starter and finally, the last refuge of the scoundrel, prayer. Dispite all those things, my starter was still growling like a lame bear. So, last night, I reread all the advice that was given on the thread I wrote chronicaling my dispair. Like a feather, one post by Traditional Racing floated into my brain like a feather in a morning summers breeze. I had p***ed it over the many times I read my thread and I have no idea why I skipped it or just plain dismissed it. "Check you distributor mechanical advance too." So, this morning, I went to a friends house to use his timing gun. I retarded my timing what seemed by the smallest of increments. In an instant, my engine had such a sweet, mellow purr. Better than usual. I tightened up the distributer nut and cut her off. After several restarts, during which my starter kicked in business as usual, I tightened up the hold down nut. I was done. Problem solved. So, there it was. After 5 starters in 5 months and chasing my tail, simple and ignored advice from a HAMBer had saved my ***. Thanks, Traditional Racing and thanks guys for all your advise. Most of which I used. Keep I Simple Stupid. Yup......
So what initial advance was causing the problem and what did you end up setting it to which solved the problem? jack vines
I ended up at 4* BTDC. Can't remember what initial was. As soon as I cranked it over, I started turning. I kinda knew it had to be off. It was the only thing left.
It's almost always something simple, isn't it? Got gas in it? mmmmmm (My Billy Bob Thornton from Slingblade.) BTW, Merry Christmas, Fred.
The way it seems, I guess I was trying to start on a compression stroke and it was too much for the starter to turn the flywheel. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but that's what I figure. Could be wrong.
Like a feather in a morning summers breeze. Very poetic. I have to go back to the shop for some moonshine and wash that out.
i run a locked advance on a 283 chev stock car run good until ONE NIGHT before the feature i tried to start it, never got it started and missed the feature sure learned from that experience have ben setting my timing on my street cars as far advanced as i can get them started and have had a few problems there too must be a slow learner
it was an OT thing - that little check engine light....and at the wrong time - inspection time....after a few meter checks and new parts ..... someone said - unhook the battery for a moment then hook it back up....dam if that light disappeared and my little PT gots a new sticker..
I did those Chrysler trouble shoot competetions in the 60s ... the big things was to sabatouge the VA diaphram .... played havoc on the engine.
So you'll be heading to the parts store tomorrow to reimburse them for all those starters you had replaced under warranty? Glad you got the problem figured out. I had the same problem on a BBC about 30 years ago. I traded the car away to friend before I ever got it figured out. My friend fought with it too.
I actually am going to stop by there tomorrow. I want them to know what the problem was, in case another customer puts them through the same ****. They'll at least be able to aid in customers trouble shooting. Hopefully, they still have the last one and can put it back up for sale.
Cool. I was just kidding around. Gotta feel great having the problem solved. No fun turning the key and expecting that grinding sound.
Fred, Great to hear you found the root cause of your starter headache, and that it was a simple repair. I read the original thread every day to see your discovery progress, and to educate myself - this is not an area I am familiar with yet. Traditions Racing had lots of good observations, and his last one piqued my interest - thrust bearing wear. I was not sure what a thrust bearing did, where it is located, or how to check it, so I did a little research, and learned that on the SBC, the rear main bearing is the thrust bearing. For a visual of lateral crank movement, this was pretty helpful. however, the type shown is different from an SBC. Thrust Bearings and What They Do - EricTheCarGuy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdl7texNgBk This video went into more detail on thrust and how it is checked. Checking Crankshaft thrust (endplay) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SU3HS3-Vh4 This text was helpful in explaining bearing failure causes. http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Article/1957/thrust_bearing_failure.aspx http://www.4secondsflat.com/Thrust_bearing_failures.html Anyway, thanks for sticking with it finding the problem, and I learned a lot just by reading along with you and the responders. Bill
Yes, what do they say "it is always the 1%ers that get every time"... I've been caught my fair share of times.
I have an o/t car that beat me up like that. 355 chev Went though a bunch of starters Found out out of frustration and trying all kinds of things the ring gear on the flywheel wasnt welded on straight Over 1/4" out side to side Put a new good quality one on and the car was fixed Posted from Jalopyjournal.com App for Android
I had a 327 Chevy like that, turns out the distributor was a tooth off when I dropped it in and was way too advanced. Swapped out starters like mad... finally took it out and dropped it in from scratch out of desperation. Bob
Glad you got that fixed up Fred. Easy fixes are great, its too bad most of us have to go through the "hard way" before we try the simple stuff! I am a charter member of that club...lol Now go find TDC on the engine and check your balancer timing lines
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