Installing Starter In 455 Marine Engine

[olds]

Are the shims that come with a starter used to move the starter away from the flywheel? IE, give you more clearance between the bendix and flywheel? The bell housing is on and I don't have a lot of room to work. I can engage the bendix with a screw driver thru a peephole in the housing, but it doesn't disengage on it's own, it stays in contact with the flywheel. A tap with the screwdriver will disengage it. I took out the old starter and the bendix is stuck in the engaged position. I wonder if this was caused by improper shimming in the first place? If I put power to the starter with no shims in place it seems to work. (The old starter had no shims and lasted all of two years.) The bendix engages and disengages. But I don't want to have to do it again if this one burns up too. I can't get a feeler guage in to check clearances. What the proper way to shim it?

 

[Ornery]

Pinion To Flywheel Clearance

If it does seem to be sticking, it would be a safe bet to throw a .020" shim in there. It ought to move freely at that point. If not... I'm stumped!

 

[olds]

Thanks. I can't get a feeler guage in there. I tried it one shim at a time (it came with 2) and with both shims. Each time I engaged it with a screw driver and each time it bound with the flywheel. I hooked up the battery and with the thinnest shim in, the bendix was still engaged (stuck on flywheel) after turning it over with starter. With both shims in it disengaged on it's own. I guess I'll go with both shims and see how it works. It's a lot of work to replace the starter because you have to rent a hoist, disconnect all elecctrical, water, cooling, etc and lift the motor.

 

[Ornery]

Yikes! That's quite a chore! Might want to slap another .005" shim in for good measure. Sheesh! :Q

 

[Cyberian]

Yeah! - The starter on my old 350/260 was under the block, just about at tye lowest part of the bilge.
Salt water is not real good for starter motors!

 

[HappyPuppy]

I never cease to be amazed at the variety of information available on ATOT. Keep up the good work, guys.