Hi-torque starter mechanism different from standard?

eddiehotrod · eddiehotrod's Garage

Hi all, I recently bought a hi-torque starter, but I've noticed that the gear mechanism is the type that extends on rotation by about an inch - but the standard starter that I've just removed doesn't do that. It's fixed. Have I bought the wrong thing? Thanks.

rnln · 06-04-2006, 01:40 PM

umm.. I don't know P car starter but I thought all starter need to extend on rotation. If it's fixed, doe that mean it stay on the gear and rotate all the time when the engine is running?

rnln · 06-04-2006, 01:41 PM

umm.. I don't know P car starter but I thought all starter need to extend on rotation. If it's fixed, doe that mean it stay on the gear and rotate all the time when the engine is running?
Why do you have to replace the starter? is your old starter bad? I have seen bad starter that doesn't do anything when hook up and I also seen bad starter rotate without extending. This is why the gear doesn't get engage and car doesn't start.

randywebb · 06-04-2006, 02:09 PM

The solenoid extends the starter shaft so its gears will mesh with the flywheel's ring gears.

eddiehotrod · eddiehotrod's Garage

Ok, so it looks like the old starter's shaft is supposed to extend but doesn't, which explains why it wouldn't start my car anymore. Thanks for your replies.

911pcars · 06-04-2006, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by eddiehotrod
Ok, so it looks like the old starter's shaft is supposed to extend but doesn't, which explains why it wouldn't start my car anymore. Thanks for your replies.

Sounds like your old starter rotates but doesn't engage. That right?

Interested in exploring some? Since your car has a working starter, you could perform an autopsy and see why the gear doesn't extend. It might be mechanical (e.g. broken lever arm) or electrical (e.g. open or shorted electrical circuit). Either is fixable to create a spare. If you lose interest after tearing it apart, you have numerous paper weights. :-)

Sherwood

dynevahn · 06-04-2006, 06:04 PM

hows the hi-torque starter working for you? I was just looking at one, I need a starter.

eddiehotrod · eddiehotrod's Garage

Thanks Sherwood, I'll give the autopsy a try, although once the car is back up and running I suspect the old starter will just sit on the shelf gathering dust.....
Dynevahn - I haven't fitted it yet, but when it's in I'll let you know what I think.

cashflyer · 06-05-2006, 05:23 AM

One of the better decisions I have made was to switch to the lighter, high-torque starter.

eddiehotrod · eddiehotrod's Garage

It's fitted and working and I love it. The noise is like a compressed-air driven sewing machine, but it's got a sort of race car noise that appeals to me. While I was in there I fitted a new negative battery cable and an extra earth cable from the starter to the gearbox. So that should fix my latest run of no-start issues......

mjw · 06-07-2006, 01:53 PM

I replaced my 33 year old stock starter with the lighter weight high torque unit a couple of months ago; it works great.

rrcrawford70s · 06-07-2006, 02:06 PM

I have a Hi-torque starter,love the sound, works great.

A friend recently suggested that it has TOO much torque for our old cars. Mine is in a 1970.
It spins too fast, too hard. and it will cause damage down the line. I believe it was the pinion that gets damaged.

Anyone heard of this??

RoninLB · 06-07-2006, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rrcrawford70s

A friend recently suggested that it has TOO much torque for our old cars.
I believe it was the pinion that gets damaged.

Anyone heard of this??

heard about this in days of old Chevy days. It was the flywheel ring gear that would get chipped.

I've been using a high torque started, Tilton, for years with no damage.