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CJ Starter Problems

2K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  86cj74.2L 
#1 ·
I have an 83 CJ with a 258 for about 2 years. In that time I have put in 4 starters. What happens is I put in a new one, and it works fine for about 10 starts, then I start hearing a bad noise everytime I start. At first it sounds like the starter is struggling to turn the flywheel then a big BANG, then struggling to turn the flywheel then BANG again. It will start like this far about 2-3 times then I just hear the starter turning freely without engaging the flywheel. I've had a couple of people look at the flywheel teeth and all say they look fine. I would definitely appreciate any ideas you guys might have...thanks in advance.
 
#3 ·
ditto ^^^

had a similar problem on my boat, it bolted up fine and looked straight but when engaged the starter was binding from being at an angle.
 
#9 ·
I had this issue and my mechanic friend ended up fabbing some shims and shimming the starter. It worked. I am currently having my motor changed out and am changing bell housings while the motor/trans is out. Hopefully this will fix my issue.

This starter issue is the biggest PIA I have dealt with. Its also very common. If someone has posted, or does post a definitive repair thread on this issue I vote for having it stickied or having it added to the CJ Stickies thread.
 
#10 ·
CJ7KAHUNA said:
I had this issue and my mechanic friend ended up fabbing some shims and shimming the starter. It worked. I am currently having my motor changed out and am changing bell housings while the motor/trans is out. Hopefully this will fix my issue.

This starter issue is the biggest PIA I have dealt with. Its also very common. If someone has posted, or does post a definitive repair thread on this issue I vote for having it stickied or having it added to the CJ Stickies thread.
All the starter noise for Grammys 86 CJ was I didn't have the dowels pressed into the block. They are what locates the starter.

You don't shim a ford starter. If shimming it fixes it the dowels are most likely not in the block in the lower two corners.

PS. That is what fixed Matt's starter noise.
 
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