Hi torque starter shim, where can I get one???

[Speed Buggy]

I got my hi torque starter today but no shim in box. The old starter flange is much thicker than the new. Where can I get the shim / spacer? Grrrrr.

[Cory M]

I've got a hi torque starter too, still in box waiting to be installed, so I'll probably have the same issue. Is the problem with the thinner flange that original bolts are now too long, or does the gear not line up correctly? How thick of a shim is needed? I only took mine out of the box briefly but don't recall seeing a shim in there.

[tirwin]

I just recently installed a high-torque starter I got off eBay. Not sure if it's the same one but mine came with a spacer and I didn't need it one my 915. You're welcome to it. Send me a PM and we can work it out.

[Speed Buggy]

Cory, I am wondering if the thinner flange will put the starter gear too far in and go past the ring gear or not engage it properly.

[Cory M]

Maybe you can measure and compare when you get the old one off. Mine didn't come with spacer either, double checked last night. Going on an 88 with g50 trans. I probably won't have time to install for a week or so.

[Ayles]

I put my high torque starter on a couple weeks ago (have not fired it up). It did not come with a shim. Is this a necessary thing or is there a way to tell if you will have a problem or not other than trying to start?

[Speed Buggy]

I googled 911sc hi torque starter pelican and read some comments about the starter making bad sounds. I'm going to measure the projection of the starter gear on both starters and see if there is a difference.

[Ayles]

Seems like there are a couple of different versions (ebay, pelican etc...) of the high torque starter. Of the 20+ reviews of the one pelican sells there are no mentions of needing a shim:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/more_info.cgi?pn=PEL-GE-STHT&catalog_description=&High%2520Torque%2520Starter%2520Note%253A%2520Star ter%2520is%2520new%252C%2520no%2520core%2520requir ed

[tirwin]

I thought mine needed the shim at first, but as it turns out it did not. Just needed a little light coaxing. Starter works great too. It fires up strong -- no noise.

[Ayles]

Which model do you have?

[Speed Buggy]

I got the one from here. PEL-GE-STHT. Tim, I'll put my starter in and see if it works. Maybe I'm worrying for nothing.

[Speed Buggy]

Maybe if it doesn't come with one then it doesn't need one?

[Speed Buggy]

So gents, I measured from the starter face to the ring gear and to the front edge of the ring gear. I got about 36 mm face to face and about 50 mm to the fron of thr gear (eyeballing it). The pinion when extended is about 38 mm flange face to inside of the gear and about 48 mm to the outside of the gear. I would say yous are correct that I dont need the shim. Thank you for all of the input. Cheers, Mike.

[slc215]

I know I’m digging up a few year old thread but I am having a very loud, and I must say pretty scary, noise when I start up my car. Now it is not every single time I start up the car but probably more than 50% of the time. I do have a high torque starter and am wondering if something is not lining up correctly and what others have done if they have experienced similar issues. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[911SauCy]

I just bolted one of these on, have not yet started car...didn't even know a shim could be a thing...

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

I just bolted one of these on, have not yet started car...didn't even know a shim could be a thing...

You'll know the first time you try to start it! If you hear a grinding sound. you'll know you need a shim. The problem is the starter gear protrudes too far into the starter ring and grinds on the ring. I installed a hi torque starter eight years ago without a shim and had no problems. I haven't heard of the shim problem in several years, perhaps the problem has been remedied.
Typically the starter brands that may have been subject to this problem were shipped with a shim.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by slc215

I know I’m digging up a few year old thread but I am having a very loud, and I must say pretty scary, noise when I start up my car. Now it is not every single time I start up the car but probably more than 50% of the time. I do have a high torque starter and am wondering if something is not lining up correctly and what others have done if they have experienced similar issues. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

If you suspect the starter shim problem, only way to verify is pull the
starter and look for metal filings and wear on the flywheel gear ring.
Don't know if you can see much from the open access window on the drivers side of the bellhousing, but perhaps take a look.
If the problem is evident, it must be fixed as it will eventually eat up the ring gear.

[jlex]

If things can be messed up with the ring gear, I think I'll pass on the hi-torque starter when my G50 needs a new starter and just go for the standard one.... hi-torque or not, I'm not going to go looking for trouble to save a couple of pounds of weight! Too much of a PITA to have to re-do a partial drop to replace a finicky starter on a G50. No thanks...

[pmax]

Originally Posted by jlex

If things can be messed up with the ring gear, I think I'll pass on the hi-torque starter when my G50 needs a new starter and just go for the standard one.... hi-torque or not, I'm not going to go looking for trouble to save a couple of pounds of weight! Too much of a PITA to have to re-do a partial drop to replace a finicky starter on a G50. No thanks...

Agreed. The benefits are just not there given the risks IMO.

My feedback to slc215 is to forget experimenting with shims lest the ring gear gets chewed up even further and go with the OEM starter.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by pmax

Agreed. The benefits are just not there given the risks IMO.

My feedback to slc215 is to forget experimenting with shims lest the ring gear gets chewed up even further and go with the OEM starter.

Me thinks you may be painting with too broad a brush, many many Pelicans have installed hitorque starters with no problems whatsoever.
Yes there has been a few bad apples, but don't throw out the good for a few bad.
Been using a Hitorque for years now and couldn't be happier

The reason I replaced my huge chunk of lead Bosch starter with a Hitorque one was due to several Boschs that I had with "heat soak" no start problems as well as failing solenoid troubles. The old field and stator starters are ancient technology and not really that reliable. Virtually all modern cars now use light weight permanant magnet starters with higher torque and are virtually trouble free.
Also, the hitorque takes up about half the space and ends the trauma
of removal and replacement of that huge chunk of Bosch iron.
If you've replaced one (sometimes requires a partial engine drop)
you know what I mean.
You just need to be vigilant when doing the Hitorque starter install like any upgrade you do.