The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay STARTER QUESTION

Have a 53 1/2 ton which I have completed a 12 volt conversion on the 55 235 engine I put in. Left the 6 volt starter in place. Notice sometimes when starting the engine, the flywheel sounds like it is spinning and the starter slams into it. I wait until it stops and crank again and usually no problem and it starts. I do have a 12 volt starter that I got with the engine though I did not use. Should I ? Thanks, Scott

You can't use a 12 volt starter on a 6 volt flywheel.
Take your 6 volt off and look for any obvious issues. While it is out, have it checked out by a starter/alternator specialty repair shop.

If the engine came with a 12V starter it may have a 12V flywheel. If it has 168 teeth you need the 12V starter.

139 teeth on the flywheel 6v
168 teeth on the flywheel 12v

1955-1st engine/flywheel 6v
1955-2nd engine/flywheel 12v

What is the engine serial number - pressed into the block to the rear of the distributor?

I will locate the serial numbers.. the flywheel is from the orginal 216 engine same as the starter. I did not replace the flywheel when I put the 235 engine in as according to Patrick's engine swap article it was not necessary. As I mention, it is an intermitten issue and seems to happen when having hard starts. When I bought the engine it came with a 235 car carb and when replacing it with a truck carb and adjusting the air/fuel and idle during multiple start attempts is when I noticed it. Usually, the truck just fires right up.
If I wanted to replace the flywheel, can it be done without pulling the engine? Can't remember..thanks, Scott

Sometimes, the linkage to the starter gets sloppy or bent a bit. It can cause the switch on the starter to connect before the bendix drive engages the flywheel. The starter will spin before the teeth are meshed. Try a hand file on the lever that pushes the starter switch.It won't take much to slow the switch connection and let the teeth mesh. And sometimes the linkage will never get the switch closed. You can add a bit of weld to build up the lever that moves the switch. Some adjusting may fix the problem. Yes the flywheel can be removed from under the truck...it is heavy, and wants to eat fingers. Will have to remove the transmission first no matter how you do it. It will require the truck be up on stands. You will need some room under there.

Tim, 0996699F54Z, right behind the distribitor.

F54Z

F = Flint, MI plant
54 = 1954 (high pressure engine with water pump in right location for 47-55st trucks)
Z = car 235 standard engine, with mechanical lifters - used with manual transmission

It would have originally had a flywheel for a 6v starter.
The 6v starter would work OK at 12v (just do not crank for long periods).

Someone could have changed to a 12v flywheel.

However, using a 12v starter with a 6v flywheel would be/become a problem.

Is there away to ID the flywheel when it is still installed ?
Other than removing spark plugs and manually rotating
crank shaft and counting teeth on the flywheel, through the starter mounting hole?

jorb,

I think that Pre '68 Dave or Deve or ??? posted a quicker way of determining 139 (6v) teeth or 168 (12v) teeth on the flywheel?

Let's see what "short cuts" get posted here.

the flywheel is off the original 216 engine as is the starter. I will pull the starter Saturday and have a electrician friend of mine check it out.

the flywheel is off the original 216 engine as is the starter. I will pull the starter Saturday and have a electrician friend of mine check it out.

the flywheel is off the original 216 engine as is the starter. I will pull the starter Saturday and have a electrician friend of mine check it out.

the flywheel is off the orignial 216 engine as is the starter.

You could say that again, scotts60

Hate when that happens! To pull starter tomorrow.

The flywheel and starter are the same ones that I have had prior to 12 volt conversionot. This problem just started happening and only when having to crank engine several times. Perhaps the starter is bad?

How would one know wether they had a 6v or a 12v starter on their truck ?

i believe the 12v has a solenoid on it.

Some 6v starters had a solenoid on them.
Some 12v starters had no solenoid on them.

You know the voltage starter you have by the number of teeth on the flywheel. Scott sounds like the starter could be going bad.

http://devestechnet.com/Home/Flywheel

easy way, if the ID tag is still there: Black tag=6v Red tag=12v
applies to both starters and generators, if one is missing maybe the other is still there

Bill