the mayor

Had engine rebuilt. Put the same starter back on no shims. There were no shims before. Dart block heavy duty NAPA starter. Never had any problems before the rebuild. It worked a couple times out. Last night it just made agrinding noise. Pulled the starter it looks good. Thought the gear had broke or wore.
Does this set up need to be shimed? Could the solenoid be weak or bad.
Going to get a new starter today.

mike tkach

if same starter,same block,same flywheel the problem could be hydrolock in the engine.pull all the plugs and turn the engine with a socket and long ratchet and look closely for water from the spark plug holes.

the mayor

I'm going to pull the plugs just for inspection it was only the third time the motors been ran since the dyno. The starter worked the first few start then started acting up since I put the engine in the boat a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully just an old weak starter. It worked great before the rebuild no issues last year.

Any preference on brand or type of starter. Hope this does not turn into a oil brand type question. LOL
Engine is 10.7 to 1 compression

the mayor

Local NAPA. Didn't have starter called several other part supplier and strange enough Orielys cross referenced the Napa number and had one in stock. Installed it no problems yet. I think the old one was tired it starts easy now. Nice evening ride to cincy and back.

SB

Yeh, don't get another NAPA. Never been (and I'm pretty old) impressed with their starters nor alternators. Not uncommon to have to keep replacing them.

Budman II

Shouldn't he be running a marine starter rather than an automotive starter like you get at NAPA or O'Reily's? Without a spark arresting system, you run the risk of a big BOOM if you get some gas fumes down there in the bilge.

I tried one of the DB Electrical starters on my boat a couple of years ago, and ended up with the dreaded grinding sound. Bent two of the Chinese bolts that come with it, and then the starter itself started making noise after I went out and got some real GM bolts. I finally gave up and bought a Merc starter - end of problems.

SB

NAPA sells marine parts.

the mayor

I'm no expert and certainly understand the concern. It appears to be a totaly enclosed starter and was cross referenced from the Napa part number which was a marine unit.

Budman II

Good to know!

RNGRDVE

Napa, O'reilly, Smyth and most of the other local parts houses sell marine parts even though their counter guys don't know how to look them up. I usually research my own part numbers when I need something.
PS Tim I hope to find you on the water in the next couple weeks. If the weather cooperates I'm taking dad (Earl) out on the river Sunday for fathers day if you're going to be out.