Starter sticking to flywheel gear

[MOTractor]

Some jobs never end!

Split my tractor and replaced clutch. Got it back together, cranked it and the starter (that was working perfectly before tractor split) gear seems to get hung in the flywheel gear. There were no shims when I took the starter off. I put a washer over each starter stud and replaced starter - works perfectly. Took washers off and it hangs, washers back on and it works.

Have I fixed it, or just treated a symptom? Starter rebuild? Starter replace? Or get "real" shims instead of the washers?

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated!

John

 

[davesl708]

I think you should be fine with the washers if the clearance is not to much. Could the return spring on the clutch be getting weak preventing the sprocket from retracting with full contact with the flywheel?
The sprocket needs to be a close fit with the flywheel to reduce wear..

 

[Leejohn]

Bolts may have been bottomed out not getting the starter tight and cocking it.

 

[Soundguy]

did you mess with the flywheel or ring gear any?

 

[MOTractor]

did you mess with the flywheel or ring gear any?

Yes, when replacing the clutch I removed the flywheel to have it resurfaced.

 

[MOTractor]

I think you should be fine with the washers if the clearance is not to much. Could the return spring on the clutch be getting weak preventing the sprocket from retracting with full contact with the flywheel?
The sprocket needs to be a close fit with the flywheel to reduce wear..

I had the starter rebuilt today. Still does the same thing: hangs up on the flywheel, add a washer on each stud and it works perfect. Who would have thought that when splitting a tractor and replacing the clutch that the major problem would be the starter

 

[CCWKen]

I think LeeJohn is on the right track. Sounds like the bolts are bottoming out before they are tight. Adding the washer(s), in essence, shortens the bolts. It's common for crud and rust to build up in threaded holes. Try cleaning out the holes.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Don't know about your machine but on the old case desiels as the ring gear wears, burs can form that hang up the starter gear. A file fixes that. Seems unlikely though on a newly resurfaced ring gear. Just a thought.

 

[MOTractor]

I will pull the starter tomorrow evening and check the holes.

 

[truckdiagnostics]

if shimming fixed it great. It may have something to do with the fly wheel being mounted off several degrees from where before. On a 6 cylinder for example the engine will stop, in one of three places consistently. This would wear the ring gear out in those areas, when you moved the mounting, you where in an area that was less worn out? Just a thought.