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6.5 starter issues

Rogerhsr

New member
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Location
North Carolina
1984 c30 was originally a 6.2 I swapped a 6.5 out of a 1997 3500 hd dually the transmission is the original straight drive in 1984 and so is the flywheel and clutch setup the starter bendix is binding on flywheel and won’t release I’ve tried shims and it didn’t help and the starter is very noisy I’ve counted teeth on flywheel is 139 teeth and I was told that it’s the correct flywheel the starter is for the 1997 6.5 any advice would be greatly appreciated
 

richingalveston

Well-known member
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galveston/Texas
has it started and run before. I had this happen to me and the flex plate was bad. it was warped. when you turn the motor over by hand you could see the flex plate walking back and forth.
you were asked if it was a cucv and did not reply. a c30 is a civilian truck and we do not know what a straight drive tranny is. Is it a Turbo 400?
The more info you give the more help you will get here.
 

richingalveston

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I have not worked with this set up before but it should not matter. check the flex plate for warpage and also for more shims. how old is the starter, could just be a bad Bendix in the starter not pulling it back enough.
One thing I do know, if the truck does not start, the starter will not return, it will stay extended. The motor has to be spinning in order for the gear to be retracted.
The starters are noisy any way. I had the same problems as you but once I got the covers on the tranny and the hood down, the noise was back to normal.
And once I was able to start the truck, the starter worked as it should.
What starter do you have. is it direct drive or gear reduction, Since it is civy I assume it is 12 volt and not 24V
 

Rogerhsr

New member
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Location
North Carolina
I have not worked with this set up before but it should not matter. check the flex plate for warpage and also for more shims. how old is the starter, could just be a bad Bendix in the starter not pulling it back enough.
One thing I do know, if the truck does not start, the starter will not return, it will stay extended. The motor has to be spinning in order for the gear to be retracted.
The starters are noisy any way. I had the same problems as you but once I got the covers on the tranny and the hood down, the noise was back to normal.
And once I was able to start the truck, the starter worked as it should.
What starter do you have. is it direct drive or gear reduction, Since it is civy I assume it is 12 volt and not 24V
It’s the 12 volt starter that came With the donor truck which was a 1997 3500hd 6.5 Td it’s the gear reduction starter it’s a remanufactured one I’ve tried 2 different starters and the same result the shims won’t work I’ve tried several the flywheel is brand new perfection clutch brand that is for the sm465 manual transmission that the truck came with it’s a 1984 c30 dually was originally a 6.2 diesel
 

richingalveston

Well-known member
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Location
galveston/Texas
does the motor start?
if it does not start the Bendix will not retract so don't worry about that part if the motor is not starting.
if it is just noisy then let it be noisy until you get the motor running.
I thought mine was bad but it was not, I was just laying next to it instead of being in the cab with the hood down and all the covers on.

The only other thing to check is to make sure your starter bolts are not bent or possibly someone tried to repair the block with a helicoil and it is out of alignment.
What is the history. have you had this motor up and running before or is it new to you.
 

Rogerhsr

New member
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3
Location
North Carolina
does the motor start?
if it does not start the Bendix will not retract so don't worry about that part if the motor is not starting.
if it is just noisy then let it be noisy until you get the motor running.
I thought mine was bad but it was not, I was just laying next to it instead of being in the cab with the hood down and all the covers on.

The only other thing to check is to make sure your starter bolts are not bent or possibly someone tried to repair the block with a helicoil and it is out of alignment.
What is the history. have you had this motor up and running before or is it new to you.
Is hasn’t been cranked yet only spun over with starter the bendix is to tight to flywheel u have to pry it off
 

richingalveston

Well-known member
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Location
galveston/Texas
mine was the same way. I was using the starter to circulate the oil and prime the fuel system prior to the final touches on the engine. I decided to quit worrying about the starter and get the motor running and once the motor turned over, the Bendix returned like normal and I have not had issues since then.
I would suggest getting the motor running then see if you still have starter problems. As long as it is turning the engine over.

but since it is a new motor you need to check out the starter bolt holes. Many good motors have been trashed because the starter bolt holes were bad. It is very hard to fix them without pulling the motor and sending the block to a machine shop. It is cheaper just to get another motor.
 

Rogerhsr

New member
24
1
3
Location
North Carolina
mine was the same way. I was using the starter to circulate the oil and prime the fuel system prior to the final touches on the engine. I decided to quit worrying about the starter and get the motor running and once the motor turned over, the Bendix returned like normal and I have not had issues since then.
I would suggest getting the motor running then see if you still have starter problems. As long as it is turning the engine over.

but since it is a new motor you need to check out the starter bolt holes. Many good motors have been trashed because the starter bolt holes were bad. It is very hard to fix them without pulling the motor and sending the block to a machine shop. It is cheaper just to get another motor.
I ordered a direct drive starter for the 6.2 you think I should try it or no?
 

richingalveston

Well-known member
1,715
120
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Location
galveston/Texas
I was in the same boat as you. I just went ahead and finished the motor and now I don't hear it because the motor starts so fast the starter does not run for more than a second.
you might try the direct drive starter if you want. but for sure double check the bolts and bolt holes and also make sure you have the rear starter brace.
 

Rogerhsr

New member
24
1
3
Location
North Carolina
I was in the same boat as you. I just went ahead and finished the motor and now I don't hear it because the motor starts so fast the starter does not run for more than a second.
you might try the direct drive starter if you want. but for sure double check the bolts and bolt holes and also make sure you have the rear starter brace.
I have new Gm starter bolts I’ve installed and the bracket is installed I have noticed from pictures that the starter nose on the direct drive doesn’t look as long as the gear reduction
 

Miah

Member
90
29
18
Location
Kansas City-ish, MO
Silly Question. Are you sure the starter is for a manual transmission? IIRC there's a difference between the heads on a manual vs auto trans, but that's going back over half-remembered posts here from years back...
 

Barrman

Well-known member
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Location
Giddings, Texas
The nose cone of the starter is different on the direct drive starters for manual or automatic. The manual has a huge opening for the Bendix and the automatic has a very small opening. The automatic nose cone will not allow the starter to bolt up to a manual flywheel equipped engine. Since yours is bolted up, that isn't your problem.
 

Rogerhsr

New member
24
1
3
Location
North Carolina
The nose cone of the starter is different on the direct drive starters for manual or automatic. The manual has a huge opening for the Bendix and the automatic has a very small opening. The automatic nose cone will not allow the starter to bolt up to a manual flywheel equipped engine. Since yours is bolted up, that isn't your problem.
Good news I installed a Napa direct drive starter and it doesn’t bind on flywheel works very well I just need the bracket the holds the starter
 

cucvrus

Well-known member
11,449
10,354
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Location
Jonestown Pennsylvania
Good news I installed a Napa direct drive starter and it doesn’t bind on flywheel works very well I just need the bracket the holds the starter
I know a guy that has some of them. ME. parts are available.
 
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