Topic: I think my starter broke...

[madmtnmotors]

Could this be my problem?




Happened in the driveway after I got home from work. Jumped in to move it and heard a hellish racket. The truck (97 C1500 Suburban) actually started and was idling, but my curiosity made me shut the truck off and try starting it again. No joy. Just more (but different noises) and no more start. Just got the new starter in and the tools put away. Checked the new starter to ring gear clearance, well within spec, not sure what brought this about. Turned the ring gear/flywheel one revolution and all the teeth look good, contact patterns on the ring gear and the failed starter gear look good (not bottoming out the teeth). Bad casting? One year warranty on a starter that I installed 360 days ago... whew! That was close!




Just in time to go to bed!

[scottly]

Common failure for Chevy starters.

[DH]

guessing, I'd suspect the long skinny bolts that hold the nose cone to the motor
case loosened, then got torqued back/forth/sideways over many start cycles till they snapped? or did the nose cone break? Good to hear it didn't wreck the flywheel.

[madmtnmotors]

or did the nose cone break? Good to hear it didn't wreck the flywheel.

Yep, snapped the nose cone clean off. Mounting bolts were tight, almost sounded like a backfire when the truck started, which moved me to shut it off and try starting again. Glad I did, or I would not have known until went to leave for work this morning. From the sounds of it I was certain the ring gear was being shredded. At least it happened in the driveway and not 100 miles from home. 

[Stev-o]

I dont see the pic, Wilbur. Just a big "-"

[madmtnmotors]

I dont see the pic, Wilbur. Just a big "-"

Image display is intermittent for me as well.