Starter / flywheel clash

[Al Lindley]

Did a TH400 to Muncie M20 conversion on my '65 Catalina, all factory parts. 428 block & Brand new Hays flywheel & ring gear. i cannot get correct starter gear & ring gear mesh (grinds loudly) in any position and chewed the heck outta the ring gear. this occured on both an OEM starter and on a powermaster XS 9510 mini starter. This very same mini starter worked flawlessly on the TH400 flex plate / ring gear. i've done no shims, .015, .030, .045, .060 shims and finally milled .060 off of the starter mount and started shimming from there... no good. has anyone run into this issue with this fly wheel starter combo?

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

Can you take a picture of it? When you describe it grinding have you looked directly at it while it is trying to engage? Can you take a picture of the ring gear? Mike

[Unknown_Authority]

Are you sure you have the correct flywheel? 166 tooth I believe.

[Al Lindley]

Can you take a picture of it? When you describe it grinding have you looked directly at it while it is trying to engage? Can you take a picture of the ring gear? Mike

Thanks Mike... i've pulled the flywheel & sent back to Hays for a new ring grea. Regarding the pattern, the teeth on the fly wheel were ground off about .060" deep and about two thirds the length of each tooth ground off. Based on that pattern my thought was the starter gear was too far away. As far as looking at it while engaged, the bell housing does not allow seeing the meshing of the gears.

[Al Lindley]

Are you sure you have the correct flywheel? 166 tooth I believe.

Yes, its a 13-130 (30LB.) Hays unit, should have 166 teeth. I had some discussion with Hays of possibly the wrong ring gear on the flywheel... they have it now to replace the ring gear and assess the tooth count.
Thanks.

[HOTROD64-STOCK69]

When the flywheel is returned and if they say everything is correct I would pull the 4 speed and bell housing so as to make the mesh mechanically by hand and you should be able to see what is wrong. FYI couldn't you have replaced the ring gear yourself? I do them all the time.

[Al Lindley]

When the flywheel is returned and if they say everything is correct I would pull the 4 speed and bell housing so as to make the mesh mechanically by hand and you should be able to see what is wrong. FYI couldn't you have replaced the ring gear yourself? I do them all the time.

Yeah... was gonna do the ring gear but since the flywheel was brand new they agreed to cover replacment. i've got the 4 speed out now and yes... i'll dial in the starter / flywheel mesh before i install the bellhousing. Just didn't forsee this being an issue... live & learn!

Thanks.