Chunkerz

After breaking my original starter, I went out and bought an early style large bodied starter to play nice with my notched bellhousing. I installed it today and it seems like the starter gear won't fully engage the teeth on the pressure plate. There is a loud grinding machine gun sound when I turn the key. The starter is fully seated against the bellhousing. Are there differences between the late/early starters/bellhousings that I'm not aware of causing my problem?

Here's a video:

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q150/jmtrotz/20140720_184837_zpsabec97f9.mp4

V2Rocket

The starters and bell housings are completely interchangeable. Something might just be wrong with your starter solenoid.

Chunkerz

I was told that the solenoid on this starter was brand new. This solenoid has two possible locations for the small third wire going to the starter solenoid. In one of the locations the starter just spins and in the other the grinding happens. Is there supposed to be a wire or something going to that extra spot to give the starter some extra umph for jamming the gear into place?

JimV8

No the bell housings are NOT interchangeable. I found that out when I tried to fit one on my 86 NA. The reseller said they're all the same but i had all kinds of grinding and it was because I'd picked up one that belonged on a 951. Those have a slightly larger diameter flywheel and the starter opening is machined with a bit of an offset. If you put a an NA housing beside it you'll see the diff. Good luck.

Chunkerz

I'm using my original NA bellhousing/flywheel, not a turbo bellhousing/flywheel. The end of the starter that goes into the bellhousing looks identical to the original one. Does the shaft the gear slides on need to be lubed? It may be getting hung up while trying to slide forward or something.

JimV8

The gear should slide readily but doesn't need any special treatment. It sounds like the gear is bumping into the flywheel instead of meshing. You'll notice that by examining the nose of the starter gear and the face of the flywheel. You might try verifying the starter by apply 12V to it and see that the gear moves fully forward. It does that pretty violently so hold on tight.

H.F.B.

I changed my early (heavy) starter vs. a late starter. No problems at all, what remarkably has changed, was the sound of the starter when turning the engine. A bit more whining, but 2.5 kilos saved.

Chunkerz

Alright, so I bench tested the starter and this is what I found:
http://vid135.photobucket.com/albums/q150/jmtrotz/20140721_193946_zps0ba76317.mp4
I don't think it's supposed to do that... I managed to reach down inside the busted solenoid on my old starter with my jumper cables and the gear shot forward and stayed there. What could cause the gear to bounce around like that? I sure hope it's not the solenoid. Pelican Parts doesn't list it and it's like $115 from 944 Online

Chunkerz

I've accepted the fact that my alleged "new" solenoid is bad, so I'm going to replace it. I don't feel like paying 944 Online $115, Pelican Parts doesn't list it, and I can't get it at work. I searched ECS Tuning and this is what I found:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Site...enoid/ES30009/

It's listed as a BMW part, but it looks exactly the same as the solenoid I removed from the starter. n00b question, but will this work?

FRporscheman

I don't know, but it wouldn't be the first time BMW parts interchanged with 944 parts.

As a contingency plan, you could find a local starter & alternator rebuilding shop - places like that aren't that cheap but still way better than a replacement unit from online.

Chunkerz

It's a Bosch part, but they have it listed as a BMW product for some reason. I'm just worried that the screw holes may not line up or the plunger (not sure what else to call it) is too long/short.

Tiger03447

Sounds like that the starter drive is bad...if it won't extend all the way or retract fully,it may have dirt in between it and the armature shaft, binding it up, or a bad solenoid not moving the drive far enough to engage the flywheel...check out the starter shaft too..may be bent slightly, but there is generally enough slop to compensate, since the tolerances are usually not that tight...

tempest411

Why not just get a whole new starter like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Quality-Buil...a7fa22&vxp=mtr

The cost makes it one of the cheaper parts on the car. Lots of cars today have starters costing 2X as much, easy.

Dougs951S

Wow, good find. That's a screaming deal if the rebuild is halfway decent. I recently put in a rebuilt autozone starter of dubious made-in-china quality and I spent almost twice that.