The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Starter motor grinding problem w/ 1953 chevy 3600 ( 235 engine)

Hi - I am new to this forum and new owner of a stovebolt - was wondering if anyone had thoughts on this problem I am having with my truck - I bought the truck recently and noticed that when I try to start with the floor start button, i have to attempt the starting process several times before the starter engages properly. The other times, I get a horrible gear grinding sound. I have two theories about the cause and need your thoughts. First, the engine in the truck is a 235 - and based on the code on the heads, I think it is from a 55. Also, the truck was converted to 12 V at some point. I am wondering if you think the grinding is due to the wrong gear match up in the starter versus the fly wheel (maybe they kept the 216 starter in place when they swapped to a 235? - so the flywheel is from a 235 and the starter from the 216? Or does it have something to do with the conversion from 6 to 12 V 's - I read somewhere that different starter motors are needed when changing from 6 to 12 volts. Any thoughts on these theories and suggestions on ways I can verify the cause? Really appreciate any help I can get. Thanks!!!

Yes, you should use a 12v starter on a 12v flywheel (which has 168 teeth) and a 6v starter on a 6v flywheel (which has 139 teeth).

Just to confuse you, it is possible to use a 6v starter on a 6v flywheel on an engine that was made for a 12v system. You may then run 12v to that 6v starter and the teeth will match/mesh fine (but you should keep your engine well-tuned so that it starts quickly).

Mechanical linkage wear can result in the starter armature beginning to spin before the pinion gear is fully engaged into the flywheel. Check out the mechanical relationship with the battery cable disconnected first, to be sure the starter gear is fully meshed before the contact button is depressed. If that's OK, then investigate to be sure the flywheel and the starter are compatible. Also check to be sure there's not an area on the flywheel where the teeth are badly worn- - - -the engine tends to stop in one of three places due to compression, so there can be localized wear spots from repeatedly engaging the starter in the same places.
Jerry