ford fe starter index question

[wrench87]

what is happening is the starter drive is coming out the hits the ring gear and gets stuck, but the motor never turns. the engine is just on the engine hoist i did not want to put in until the starter works. if i remove the starter the gear comes out and spins. the teeth dont look like they mesh right?.
i have a 184 tooth flywheel and there is 11 teeth on the starter gear?.
i hope it is not something stupid like not enough juice to spin the tight new engine, but the starter drive gear does not return so i know it is a mesh problem.

[patrickt]

With the plugs out of the engine, a long socket wrench on the harmonic balancer bolt will turn the engine pretty easily. What you're saying is that when you crank it, the starter gear goes in between the flywheel gears, and then gets stuck, won't pull back in to the starter, and won't turn the flywheel either, right?

[wrench87]

correct, i could see if it engaged and returned then it could possibly be not enough juice, but it getting stuck and not returning worries me.

[patrickt]

Charge the battery, remove the spark plugs, and see if it does the same thing. If it does, there's definitely a problem My big-ass rebuilt OEM starter sells on line for less than $50, just fyi...

[wrench87]

ok i pulled the plugs and used a different jump box and installed a bat cable to the starter, the starter drive came out and turned the engine over but still does not release, if you try to restart nothing. you have to manually move the flywheel and eventually will return. here is a pic when it was engaged but not returned.

[wrench87]

also it is starting to leave a mark on the starter gear?.

[patrickt]

I don't know why that wouldn't just release back -- it doesn't look jammed up to me. Now, I have never owned a CVR starter, and I don't know anything about them other than a lot of FE guys seem to like them. I do know that there are some starters that do not disengage until the engine actually starts -- and if the engine doesn't start it stays engaged and just cranks from that position the next time around. I don't know if that's the case here, but it's something that popped in to my head so I'll just mention it.

[wrench87]

i guess because the flywheel is not turning the gear is getting stuck?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by wrench87

i guess because the flywheel is not turning the gear is getting stuck?

I don't know. But it will be easy to see since it's on a stand and you'll have a fully charged battery and the engine will turn easily with the plugs out (confirm that with a socket wrench, but don't leave the socket wrench sitting on the balancer bolt). Even with an almost dead battery the starter gear usually pulls back in.