Well after searching this forum for starter related posts and skiming them I am at a loss. I recently blew up my starter and the remanned Napa speical that I replaced it with for $$$ reasons was not completly disengaging. So I crammed a couple washers between the starter and the tranny for a temp fix. Now I need to find some shims that would give the gear on my starter about 1/8" clearence or so. Anybody know where I could get some of those?
Are you wanting to move your starter away from the flex plate: 1) Out away from the flex plate(I call it north and south) moving it closer to the motor allowing the gear to extend all the way out? 2) side ways(east and west ) I ask cause I had the same problem with my car(starter gear not disengaging), I went through ALOT of starters and 1 flexplate before I figured out the it was the "north and south" movement that I needed, it was side to side. I ended up drilling out the bottom starter hole on the bellhousing making the hole bigger so I could "swivel" or pivot the starter away from the flexplate, then using a nut and bolt to tighten the starter where I wanted it. When the gear is engaged, you should be able to put a paper clip between the starter gear and the flexplate teeth. But if you need to back the starter away from the flexplate(north and south) Pep Boys sell the starter shims. I am sure that most parts houses would carry them. Sorry for the short story and good luck!
It sounds more like a problem with the reman starter. You should never have to shim a ford starter. The first job I ever had was at a starter rebuilding shop (12 years) and we never ever had to shim a Ford starter. It sounds like the keeper on the shaft at the end of the starter drive may not be doing it's job and could be letting the armature inside the starter slide back and forth allowing the starter drive gear to either stay engaged into the flywheel or possibly just rub against the flyweel. I think I would take the starter back and ask for another one, especially if the problem just occured after installing this starter. Good luck.
They sell shims for Fords at most parts houses.I think there is only one size and it is pretty thick.
Well thanks guys. I returned my core starter and picked up a shim at the same time. Now all I have to do is find a spare half hour to install the thing. When I finaly got the car up on a lift so I could change the tranny fluid and filter I took off the inspection place and looked up in the direction of the starter and with the gear all the way back I the gear and the flexplate were still meshing. So I am going to put his shim in and that will fix it up good. Thanks for the help.
