<VV> Starter Question

[Larry Forman]

Hi Ken,
My guess is that the flywheel has loose rivets and has caused the ring gear 
to be non-concentric.  I would recommend checking the ring gear and see if 
it moves outward or inward as you have someone rotate the engine from the 
harmonic balancer bolt counterclockwise.  Take something to measure it as 
it moves.  If it is out of concentricity, it is engine pull time 
anyway.  Before you ask, I don't know the specs for maximum 
concentricity.  If it is WAY out you will know it.  I suspect DALE would be 
able to answer that question and could supply a good bolted flywheel.

As far as removing that, you could take a claw flexible pickup tool and 
fish around.  If that failed, I suppose you could loosen the surrounds, 
support the engine on something like an ATV lift with cradle, remove the 
rear engine support and plan on pulling the engine back JUST far enough to 
get access to what is down there.  I am not sure how much other stuff you 
might need to remove to gain that access.  I suspect you could leave all 
the wiring except the short static suppression straps intact for a couple 
inches engine movement.

Personally, I would spend a good amount of time using the fishing claw 
first through the starter hole.

Larry

At 03:58 PM 2/12/2004 -0800, Ken wrote:
>66 Corsa Coupe
>
>Here is the short version of the story.
>
>The car is currently undergoing body work in preparation for paint. I 
>start it now and then to move the car and get a better location for the 
>body work. Yesterday I started up, and the starter remained engaged and 
>before I could get the key off the snout broke off the starter. I know 
>this to be true because I removed the starter, and it is now on the bench.
>
>My question is one that I am sure someone else in the same 
>predicament  has asked. I have the old starter out, and a spare ready to 
>go in, but the thing that bothers me is that I dont have the piece that is 
>broken off the start snout. I turned the engine over by hand in a quiet 
>garage and cant hear anything rubbing, but I just cant bring myself to put 
>the spare starter back in with out having the broken piece in hand. Is 
>there a way to get it out with out pulling the engine and drive train.
>
>66 Corsa with a 65 110 with 4 speed.
>
>The engine will come out eventually, I have a replacement 140, but I 
>prefer to finish the body and paint first.
>
>Ken Morgan