Starter stuck on fly wheel

@IndianBob

It is a random phenomenon. I think the flywheel just gets in an awkward position relative to the teeth of the starter. I've had it occur once or twice in 15 years on two separate cars. I put the car in 2nd and rocked the car back & forth. Car started.

What Jim said.

I think I'd pull that starter and check the teeth on the starter gear. It is possible it's just a sticky Bendix(solenoid). Sometimes they just get dry and can stick.

That’s what happened to mine a couple of years ago. It never stranded me, but it came close. Another trick that works is tapping them with a hammer. Or, in my case, the 1/2” drive 17mm Allen key I keep in my door pocket.

I took it and my alternator and had them both rebuilt while I was R&R-ing my shroud.

I was wondering if maybe I bent starter gear sliding part because it did it one more time when I tried to start the car. After we rocked it again it didn’t happen anymore. One of my buddies says I should pull the starter and take a look at it.

Definitely pull the starter and examine the teeth that engage the flywheel.

IMHO if you replace it, just get one of these:

https://www.mooreparts.com/hi-...fEAQYAyABEgKoIvD_BwE

They're a little over $200 but it will be the last starter you ever buy for it. High torque/works/no need for the bushing in the bellhousing that goes bad/dry and can cause EXACTLY the problem you're having.

i had that problem, put the hi torq in and never happened again, money well spent..also works well for bigger displacement engines..

Cheap starters.  My 6 month old car had the starter stuck engaged with the flywheel. The starter was not powered up but the starter gear was always engaged, luckily after a short drive I realized what was happening, the starter was red hot, replaced it with another cheap starter supplied by the builder.

Actually, it’s not a cheap starter because it’s a Porsche engine out of a 1966 912, and,  according to Porsche Club of America, the 1966 912s used 1965 factory left over 356SC engines only with a different mid range tuning. So my starter, fly wheel, & clutch is Porsche. I will pull the starter though to see if I bent something.

Not being a mind reader I did not know you have a Porsche engine not VW based like most of us.  Those left over 356 casting were known to be a bit wonky, good luck.

No problems with the 912 in the years I’ve owned it!

It would be interesting to know what transmission he has, the starter boss is on the tranny as we all know.

If you get an IMI starter the bushing is no longer a factor: these starters are self-supported. It is one of the many reasons I bought one.

Self-supported, no bushing problems.

Gear-reduction, so hi-torque.

No stupid braided cable to rot like VW-Porsche OE starters.

Japanese motor.

The rest is US-made(or used to be).

Best plan

@R Thorpe posted:

It would be interesting to know what transmission he has, the starter boss is on the tranny as we all know.

I have a 1971 VW IRS tranny.

I would second DannyP's suggestion and get a starter without the need for the bushing.

First thing I'd check is the tightness of both starter bolts. If either is loose at all, I'd make a note of it. Then I'd pull it and look at the little gear on the end to make sure it was nice. Then put it on the bench and get a battery and some jumper cables and check the mechanism that makes it shoot out and engage the flywheel.

Then I'd get a flashlight and a breaker bar and slowly turn the engine while checking every tooth on the flywheel. If any were buggered up I'd think about changing that out asap.

Finally check the other three bolts/nuts/studs holding the transaxle to the engine. I don't know the torque spec for these offhand but I'd be sure to make them tight.

If everything looked good I'd put the starter back on and figure it was a weird glitch.

But my guess is, if you look carefully, you'll see something that's obviously not as manufactured.

Good advice, after reading this thread and finding out this is a VW IRS tranny mated to a Porsche 912 engine could there be a problem? The starter is mounted on the tranny and the bushing hole ( is there one in a 912 engine?) would be on the engine. Are they a perfect fit, being cousins? Curious. Anyone know for sure? Interesting.

I think that should all work just fine.

Cool, good to know, a match.

@R Thorpe posted:

Good advice, after reading this thread and finding out this is a VW IRS tranny mated to a Porsche 912 engine could there be a problem? The starter is mounted on the tranny and the bushing hole ( is there one in a 912 engine?) would be on the engine. Are they a perfect fit, being cousins? Curious. Anyone know for sure? Interesting.

Starter bushing is on the transmission FYI. Also, most VWs have a 200mm flywheel, same as a 912, so everything plays nice together.

Cool

Thanks for all the good advice. The road into the campground was very potholed and bumpy and it’s possible my starter bolts got loose so I will check the bolts. I had a pick-up once that, after I drove several miles on a dirt washboard road, the starter bolts came loose. I started my engine yesterday after five days sitting and it started right up.

Good news