5.0 MPI noise just as engine fires. Link to vide attached

Searay205

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 27, 2018
Messages
468
FK!!! Looks like aftermarket junk got me. From Jegs installation instructions:
  1. If the starter makes a high pitched whine during cranking the center distance from the pinion to the ring gear may be too great. If the starter makes a high pitched whine after cranking as the button or key is released, the center distance from the pinion to the ring gear may be too small. Add a shim.
Mine is the second as I release the key. So i measure the distance between pinion shaft and edge of starter. OEM starter is 1/16" further. So for aftermarket to engage same as OEM I need .0625" shim.

As I said earlier a "mechanic" should have recognized this during installation and corrected with Shim. Fk that get it out the door it will wear in.......

Mystery to me how I search for an answer for a week, then find answer after I order $230 starter to find a $4.95 shim kit take care of problem. Oh to add injury to insult one of the shims in the pack is a .0625".


The Jegs starter instructions are fantastic!!! if you ever need them. The orientation of the starter to flywheel is not on the bottom. So shimming doesn't result in a 1 to 1 movement in the perpendicular orientation. Bottom line with today manufacturing techniques starter shouldn't be shimmed. The OEM's know this. They don't even slot mounting holes in hoods anymore. If your working on a 1972 Olds Delta 88 shims may be necessary but to add shims to anything after 1990 would be extremely suspect in my opinion and I would avoid that starter. I changed 30 starters in my life and never ever found a shim in any car or boat. Shows you aftermarket **** IS NOT THE SAME.


Learning unless you want to become an expert. BUY OEM!!!!!!!!!
 
Last edited:

Searay205

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 27, 2018
Messages
468
Problem solved. I installed the aftermarket API POS with .0625" shim and noise was gone. Since I have zero confidence in aftermarket garbage i installed the Mercruiser OEM Quicksilver starter. Zero shims, bolted on. It is SILENT. I hear fuel pump then engine fires. The OEM starter is silent. Incredible. I tried everything to try to get the starter to make any noise and could not. I held key on after engine started, crank stop before fire and quickly crank again no noise. So the aftermarket POS even when shimmed (WTF) is exponentially louder than stock. If you read this post and patronize aftermarket junk the inherent unreliability is on you.

Brutally humid in Houston, only got 4" rain this week. What a swamp......
 
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