The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 12 volt stomp starters. I need a YEAR to reference.. got wrong drive unit

Hi-
I think the starter drive unit in my starter is going out as it doesn't consistently engage (takes about 3 or 4 stomps to get it to go. Teeth are fine, and it is the correct match for the flywheel.

The engine is a 58-62 235, but its in a 53 truck w/ stomp start. Everything is 12 volts(and a 4spd if that matters).

I ordered a started rebuild kit for a '56 chevy truck w/ 235 from napa hoping to get the right drive unit (12 volt) but it wound up being nearly an inch sorter than my original one.

http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums.../IMG_20140629_221402_282_zpsjw8mabdx.jpg

Short one is the new one... Tall one is the original.
Its 3 7/8" long. New one is only 3 1/8".

Can anyone give me a reference for another year truck that would have had a stomp starter and 12 volts, so i can find a rebuild kit with the appropriate drive, or know where i can get just the drive unit?

thanks-
Ben

the 12V stomp was used from 55.2- 60, but if a 56 doesn't work no telling what you have, might even still be a 6V, which works fine on 12V - you might want to check the contact in the box on the starter before saying the problem is the starter, very common for them to get so corroded down from arcing that they get intermittent

Bill

the contact is fine, the starter box is relatively new and i cleaned the contacts. the starter spins fine under power- it just doesn't always spin the flywheel, spins free.
Which means the drive unit is slipping/going bad.

I've confirmed it is a 12 volt unit. Just need to figure out a source for the drive.

Did you do he engine swap?

I did not. However I have verified the engine is a 58-62 235.
I know that truck has been converted to 12 volts and has the correct flywheel. The truck started fine with this starter and this engine/flywheel combo for the 10 years prior to it getting parked for 13 years.

I also have the original 6 volt starter and 216 flywheel sitting here for comparison, and can confirm they are different from the ones on the truck.

The starter drive unit that came out of my 12 volt starter matches the tooth pattern on the 12 volt starter drive that came in the rebuild kit- the new one is just too short (i'm guessing its for a v8 starter not an L6)

-Ben

Napa might have a complete 12 volt starter on the shelf to compare.

I had the same problem with my 55.2 TF truck with a 235 engine. All the FLAPS around here kept trying to sell me the wrong starter drive. Went to a automotive auto electric repair place, and they were able to get me what I needed. And also at a cheaper price.

"truck started fine with this starter (...) for 10 years prior to it getting parked for 13 years."
check the contacts in the box, they may well be heavily oxidized after sitting in your [our] climate

Bill

You'll have to take your starter drive to a place that rebuilds starters to get the correct drive.

The local FLAPS will only get you the shorter drive.

I went through the same problem with my 58 235 and drove to a shop that rebuilds starters and they had the correct drive.

Good to hear i'm not the only one Roy.
I've been doing a lot of reading after searching and it seems like this is not an uncommon problem (the drive going out)- and the few I've read with the same problem getting the right replacement did what you did.

I'm still hoping to find a part number and source it myself. If I can find one, I'll post it.