Starter spins but doesn't engage. Grinding noise!

[werchipper]

Everyones out using their vans over the bank holiday weekend!

Please can anyone give us a clue as to what’s gone wrong, just had gearbox rebuilt and torque converter refurbished on my 1988 T25 autobox 1.9 water cooled DG, also had starter refurbished. It started fine (although a bit clunky) upto today when the starter stopped engaging the gear on the torque converter, resulting in a horrible grinding sound.
Looking in the engine bay through gap in bell housing, when we try to start it the starter spins and the centre gear comes out but seems to just spin freely over the ring gear on the converter.
Any advice appreciated
Nigel and Russ

[bigherb]

May have lost some teeth off the ring gear. The engine only stops in two places 180 deg apart, so those teeth are the ones to wear most. Turn the engine clockwise a 1/4 of a turn onto good teeth and see if it engages.

[werchipper]

Thanks for the reply!

I will give this ago thanks, if this were the case what would be the solution?
Only one month back the ring gear was looked at by an auto gearbox machanic, he did weld some of the teeth as he said some had been ripped off or maybe the ring gear had been dropped! The van hasnt been driven since that time, it has just been started a few times a week. Is that type of damage likely to have been caused again! after only 8 or so start ups start ups?

Russ

[bigherb]

Yes, it is possible, welded teeth would not be hardened like the originals,

[werchipper]

Yeah so as you suggested!

We pulled on the fan belt, and turned the engine. The van wanted to start. On the second attempt, although it started this time, unfortunatly for us it seemed to tear the ringgear of the transmission. Clearly the welding job didnt stand up to the job.

We will have the transmision removed but Ultimatly we figured that we need a new ring gear now? which should solve all the issues.

We are based in Manchester. Does anyone know any reputable mechanics who can do this job, and importatly where to source the ring gear.

Russ

[werchipper]

We have sourced an replacent working torque converter. And we will be replacing the old one ourselves.
Any advice on what to look out for to prevent the same thing happening to to this torque converter, which seemed to destroy the last ring gear not once but twice!

Russ and Nigel

[silverbullet]

The starter can't spin until the solenoid has fully thrown out (although the pinion does move on a slight helix, to help it engage with the closest ring gear teeth) so its more likely to be lazy starter disengagement that has worn the ring gear i.e. its full of dust & rust and/or needs new bearings.
When the engine fires, the starter is still engaged and ring gear is driving the starter, which gets kicked out by force.
Starter pinions are very tough and hard steel, so they outlast the ring gears.
You can't weld ring gears and expect them to last, been there and done that. People still ask for it, even when I warn them!

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