Starter not engaging?

hey guys - newbie here - we have an old 1969-1971 CJ-5 Jeep at the hunting lease and the starter runs fine, but doesn't seem to make a good engagement with the flywheel - the engine turns intermittently while starting. It's done this since replacing with a new starter (rebuilt actually I'm sure since it was only $50) Anyway, my suspicions are a bad starter, but does anyone know a fix for this? Bendix spring or something cheaper than another starter? And does this damage the flywheel?
Thanks in advance!

 

p.s. We're also not sure what model year it is - is there an easy way to tell between 69, 70, and 71?

 

welcome from washington, please introduce yourself to us in the intro section. as far as the starter goes, it should be under arrenty still, why ot take it back to the place you bought it and have them A) test it or B) replace it

 

Hi Jefe,

Ahhh, I have the same symptoms. It turns and stops briefly, then turns over a and stops, then repeat, repeat, repeat. How's it with a jump?

Just curious, did you get the new/rebuilt starter from AutoZone?? If not, they can test yours for free if you unbolt it and bring it in. Also, did you install the starter that's on there now? The only thing I can think of is that there may be too many shims in between the starter and the block it's bolted onto. AutoZone provides those shims, and too many may put the starter gear too far from the flywheel. Oh, it's difficult to damage the flywheel in case you were worried about it. Best way to check the flywheel is to remove that metal inspection plate/cover that bolts to the front of the bellhousing (facing the front) and then inspect the teeth. It's an easy check. Also, I'm thinking V6...which do you have, the V6 or the 4-banger?

If you have the gas tank under the driver's seat, you've got a '69 or '70. If it's a rear-mount unit, then it's a '70 or '71.

Welcome from Ohio!
-Alan

 

If it's not engaging properly you can chew up the teeth on a flywheel. BTDT.

 

I had a similar problem with a starter on my 1956 jeep . This was on a jeep that had been sitting up for several years with a frozen motor. The bendix gear that was on the starter shaft would not slide on the shaft of the starter motor because the shaft had some rust on it. This keep it from engaging. (I noticed you said your jeep was at the deer lease.) If it has been sitting up for several months, maybe you have a similar problem.

I removed the starter and slid out the gear to where I could remove the rust with some Emory cloth. I then put some WD 40 on the shaft to help it slide better. No problems since then. It was a bit of a hassle to get the brushes back in at the other end. Take the side cover ring off of the starter and you can reach in there and hold the brushes back with some needle nose pliers and then slide the armature back into the correct position. I was working by myself and made some hooks with some wire to hold the brushes off the armature. If you had a someone helping you to hold the brushes it would probably be easier.

If your doing this at the deer lease, you can test your starter while it is off the motor with a set of jumper cables. Be carefull not to get any fingers in the way of the bindix gear.

It really is not hard to repair it.

If you don't get it fixed and your deer leases is near a rural town, there is a good chance there will be a starter and alternator repair shop in the area.

Let us know how you come out.

Regards
Cliff

 

The same problem with my 69 Cj. I took the starter apart and found about a hand full of what looked like peat moss in the drive part of the starter… the shaft was very gummed up, cleaned it all and lubed it up. Even put a small hole in the top of the cast housing so I could put more lube if needed… Every now and then it acts up. The thing probably did it new…

 

Wow, thanks for all the responses. Yes, the gas tank is under the driver's seat and it's a V6, so it's either a '69 or '70 - got it down to 2 years! I'll look for the VIN this weekend and see if I can get it down to 1.
It does sound like a bendix problem - the gear just isnt' quite getting there - plenty of spin in the starter, the engine just turns over intermittently and actually does start most of the time, but sometimes it just doesn't.
I'll try some of the tips listed and/or get another rebuilt for $30 or try to find a good original at a junk yard and let yall know how I fare.
Thanks again! :stout:

 

If you can get some WD 40 or something similar on there, I bet your problems will go away.

A 30 minute job. 10 to get it off. 1 minute to oil it, 9 to brag to the other deer hunters of how smart you are. Then 10 minutes to put it back on.


Good luck.

Cliff