[whittp]

Just got my engine put back in and I want to make sure my starter is lined up right. Starters have always needed a lot of shims to bring them out far enough where they would disengage properly on this engine for some reason.

I tried to get it where I could stick a 1/8 inch drill bit in between the starter gear and flexplate since I've heard that's a good way to check clearance. It's close but I can't quite sqeeze that 1/8 in. bit in there. I ran out of shims!

Maybe since the hood is off the car the starter sounds funny to me but check out the pic and see what you think.
Attached Thumbnails

[jmt455]

Bring the drive gear out to full engagement with the ring gear.
Shim the starter as required to provide clearance for a small paper clip (0.020") at the tip of the pinion gear tooth.

Here's how it should look:

[gtofreek]

You're too far away. Starter should sound real raspy when cranking, the way it is. I would pull some shim out. I would try pulling .030"-.060" worth of shim out and see what it does.

[whittp]

Ok great it sounds like it just needs a minor adjustment. The paper clip thing makes perfect sense but what about the 1/8 bit trick I've read about? How close should the pinion gear shaft be to the flexplate? If I remove too many shims it will touch it.

[stellar]

1'8 drill bit measurement does not apply to mini starter. Only OE starter. From the looks of the starter teeth, the starter is too far away from the flywheel.

[whittp]

Ah ok then. Looks like an easy fix for me and a lesson learned.

[whittp]

Took out some shims and got it close to the paper clip clearance. Starter sounds great!

[pippintook]

With mini starters I think there should be two clearances to check...

(i) with starter installed...how far is the starter gear from the flywheel ring gear

(ii) with starter gear out (ie. usually pry out w a screwdriver)...measure the engagement between starter gear and flywheel ring gear

The attached pics shows how to check these clearances. This was for IMI mini starter.

There can be a shim in the starter housing which lets the starter gear 'move away' from the flywheel ring gear...this shim would be used for clearance (i)

The shim you use between starter and block can affect clearance (ii)...

What about if your mini starter gear is too far away from the flywheel ring gear...this thread might help

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...hlight=starter

[2002Z4CSS]

Try using a metal coat hanger that has one end bent on a 90 degree so you can get it up there to check the tooth mesh.