Starter Not Engaging '77 Santana 88 Series III

[jimrr]

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Pulled the starter and the flywheel looks pretty mangled. Can the bendix throw be adjusted? The starter I bought was from RN and it's the high torque starter motor for Series II-III model # PLI029.

My follow up question is, did I get a defective starter or am I going to have to try and source a different brand. Or do I replace the ring gear and that should solve my problem.

good info here as I bought one of those for my S2 because previous owners shop ran it out of oil. i got it to run but can't use it (another story) but now i'm wondering if the gear mesh is not correct? this seems the more logical fate of your fly wheel? I mean the gear count, maybe it's a bit off??

[roverp480]

good info here as I bought one of those for my S2 because previous owners shop ran it out of oil. i got it to run but can't use it (another story) but now i'm wondering if the gear mesh is not correct? this seems the more logical fate of your fly wheel? I mean the gear count, maybe it's a bit off??

I also wonder if the gear teeth are not engaging properly, given the wear marks on both the flywheel and starter.

[charles1943]

Suggest cleaning the bendix drive with 'brakleen' and then hit it up with some wd-40. See how it works on the bench and reinstall if function improves

[williamdmann]

Yea I ended up throwing in the towel when I realized I couldn't swap out the ring gear myself. Taking it to a specialist here in town. My hope is that with a new ring gear they can get the alignment with the new starter correct and that will solve the problem. Since they have to pull the clutch while they're in there I ordered a new clutch plate as well so that can be replaced if it needs to.

[jimrr]

well that should end the saga!, i need to pull my s2 engine for new inserts and who knows what else but it has to wait for the new shop. meanwhile i'm driving the s3 but it's getting pretty tired!. i'm still curious whether the gear count on that starter exactly matches the ring gear as i bought one of those starters as well?