Opinions on flywheel teeth

[dangeRUSS]

Starter is grinding on my 69 F250 - 360. I thought I would find missing teeth or some ground down to nubbins when I pulled the cover off. This is the worst I found.




Questions for the experts:
A. Do I have a weak/bad starter drive, replace the starter and be OK?
B. Do I need a new ring gear on the flywheel?
C. Should I replace both?

The teeth on the starter look fine, but somehow it is not connecting every time. I'm hoping not to have to pull the trans.

[fordman]

looks like the teeth have been getting hit on the side instead of the face of the teeth. maybe you have the wrong starter on the truck.

[averagef250]

Ring gear's $15 and takes 5 minutes to install. I'd replace it for the hassle of pulling it back out.

[dangeRUSS]

The transmission is still in the truck, I was hoping to not have to pull it, I just don't have the tools (trans jack) or time right now. However, I don't want to do something half s$$ed either.

What is the best way to remove the ring gear? I have never needed to do one before. You make it sound easy.

[averagef250]

real easy. Put a torch around it and it'll fall right off. Clean up the flywheel a little bit, heat the new ring gear up and slip it right on. 5 minutes even for the first timer.

It sounds to me like what you have is a weak bendix in the starter. You can fix the starter you have or just get a reman one. Those teeth will probably be just fine like that for a long time with a good starter.

[dangeRUSS]

Those teeth will probably be just fine like that for a long time with a good starter.

Now that's what I wanted to hear


I hope your right, cause that's my thought also, thanks for the help. I'll give the ring gear a try when the clutch goes out.

[willowbilly3]

I put a good reman starter on a flywheel that looked worse than that just hoping to get along until I had time to change it. That was over 3 years and 25,000 miles ago and I had a real hot start problem for much of that time so it has had a bunch of cranking. It was quite noisey for a long time but has quieted down considerably in the last year.
Go buy a decent starter and see how that works, they aren't expensive. You could put in a new starter drive but I am guessing your nose cone bushing is shot too.

[dangeRUSS]

I'm headed out this morning to get a reman starter from NAPA, I've never had good luck with the discount part store starters.

Should have a chance to put it in later this week. Thanks for the advise.

[heep70]

You can also put the flywheel in a freezer for a half an hour and then slip the ring on. Thats if you don't have a torch.

[Redcap]

You can also put the flywheel in a freezer for a half an hour and then slip the ring on. Thats if you don't have a torch.

Yup. Done that before.

Used the oven to heat the ring once, much to my ex's dismay.

[390Nut]

Save yourself the money and flip that ring gear over.

It will work just fine.

[dangeRUSS]

Save yourself the money and flip that ring gear over.

Now that is a great idea! When I replace the clutch, that will be the thing to do. For now since the tranny is still in the truck, I am going to try the new starter on Saturday and see how it goes.

[dangeRUSS]

...........back on the road. New starter was the ticket, starts every time and no problems with the flywheel teeth.


Thanks for the help!

[sargentrs]

Any opinions (or dare I ask?) on the AZ replacement flywheels. Only $60 for my 302.