Strange noise

[Paul Amey]

I've fitted a  non overdrive gearbox to my Vitesse 2 litre mk1 and a Hi Torque RAC 101 starter motor minus the spacer . When I turn the engine over by hand there is a noise which sounds like the ring gear on the flywheel catching some thing. This noise is still there with the clutch depressed. Any ideas, before I take the starter motor off again and possible the box back out? Thanks.

Paul.

 

 

[68vitesse]

I used the alloy spacer with the hi-torque starter motor on my 2L Mk1 Vitesse, can not say if all starters are the same.

Regards

Paul

[Pete Lewis]

why did you delete the spacer  ????    it must be fitted 

Pete

[Peter Truman]

I used a Holden/Isuzu Rodeo/Trooper Hi Torque starter the spacer had to be reduced to nearly half normal thickness as per the US Telglizer website modification all works well at a very reasonable cost around. $200 or 100 quid UK.

[Paul Amey]

6 hours ago, Pete Lewis said:

why did you delete the spacer  ????    it must be fitted 

Pete

I was told I didn't need it.

[Colin Lindsay]

This was mine on my GT6 when first trial-fitted; no separate spacer bar the one that is attached to the starter itself. If you take that off, provided it comes off, you'll be hitting teeth to teeth.

[Paul H]

49 minutes ago, Paul Amey said:

I was told I didn't need it.

I’ve fitted the same to my Mk2 Vitesse and needed the spacer BUT not the shim . 
Paul 

[Steve P]

Spacer definitely required,don`t ask how i know this.

Steve

[Paul Amey]

Right, thanks. So do I have a spacer or a shim? It fits the starter motor but isn't all that thick. Could this just be a shim? I estimate it's about 2mm thick.

If this is a shim, where do I get a spacer?

Paul

[Paul H]

The spacer should have been with your original Bendix starter 

Paul 

[Pete Lewis]

yes  +1 for that 

if its missing from the old bendix unit im surprised you had not run into meshing problems  with it.

 

[Paul Amey]

Right, thanks. Now I understand. When I bought the car it started on a starter motor. This unit had no spacer or shim on it. It had a very thick body however. So I had no idea that a spacer or shim existed. Since then I have obtained what turns out to be a shim. But I have no spacer.

Paul

[Paul H]

The spacer should be at least 5 - 8 mm . This is a guesstimate 

The shim being approx 2mm 

Paul

[68vitesse]

You sure the spacer isn't on the old starter motor, they can stick quite well.

Regards

Paul

[Colin Lindsay]

Just pinched two pictures off the Net: the spacer is the big thick alloy bit with the two mounting holes; the shims are thinner metal versions used to bulk out the space. If you have the spacer fitted, but still meshing teeth, (and to be honest if it was me I'd have the starter out to check for shiny damage on the gear) then a few shims might be enough. Here's the link to those:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324495429522?hash=item4b8d6f4f92:g:Yc0AAOSwJTddHbcK

  

[Peter Truman]

The std alloy spacers frequently come up on ebay

[Paul Amey]

For the record, the old starter motor is made by Lucas. I have just given it a good examination (Hammer included) there is no spacer stuck on it. Thanks Pete, I will have a look on ebay. Steve P, I have an idea how you found out lol.

[Paul H]

1 minute ago, Paul Amey said:

For the record, the old starter motor is made by Lucas. I have just given it a good examination (Hammer included) there is no spacer stuck on it. Thanks Pete, I will have a look on ebay. Steve P, I have an idea how you found out lol.

How about a pic of the old starter ? 
Paul

[Paul Amey]

I've ordered a spacer on ebay, thanks everyone for your help. Without this forum I would have been scratching my head for a lot longer. Bear with me Paul H whilst I work out how to do that! (put photo on here).  So, just to clarify, with the Hi Torque starter motor, I need the spacer but leave the shim off?

[Colin Lindsay]

17 minutes ago, Paul Amey said:

So, just to clarify, with the Hi Torque starter motor, I need the spacer but leave the shim off?

To be short, you need what you need! It can differ between starters so you need to check yours. Have a look at how the starter fits and where the teeth are in relation to the flywheel, both with spacer fitted and without. Some need a full-sized spacer, others find that with a spacer the teeth will not move far enough forward to engage, so they might be good without or maybe need a shim or two to give the optimum spacing. With the starter out, measure the distance from the engine backplate to the flywheel teeth, then compare that measurement on your starter from the face of the body or spacer to end of drive gear, it'll help you see what room you have to work with. If you can see any trace of damage to the starter teeth it'll let you know what is hitting and by how much it needs to be adjusted.

[Paul Amey]

Thanks Colin. I know for sure that I need a spacer. It was the shim I was told to leave off with a Hi Torque starter motor.

Working on your calculation Colin, I need a 1/4 inch spacer. Thanks.