Slop between bell housing and starter

Rob R

Rob R

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Joined
Oct 21, 2020
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Austin, TX
Good Afternoon-

I have replaced the starter motor in my 2007 JK Sarah Unlimited. It is an old neighborhood jeep that I use to run around town and take to the beach. No beauty queen, 140K miles, and on her second engine.

The starter went out so I replaced it (verified it was indeed the starter). I was able to get the replacement starter in, but turning the bolts is very tough. I put them in finger tight to begin with so I don't think it's cross threaded. There is about 1MM of slop between the starter and bell housing and I can just barely wiggle the starter, but I can also see a gap. The vehicle starts fine, predictably, with no odd sounds.

Because it's so hard to swing the ratchet (even with the front end jacked up, I only get a click or two on the ratchet each time), I bought a "tight reach" extender for my socket wrench. It should allow me to get the last two turns on the bolt to snug it up.

My question is this - any foreseable problems here other than potentially stripping the bolt? I don't like the slop I see on the starter, but if it's normal, I'll simply leave well enough alone.

Thanks -

Rob
 
BLACKJKU said:
Try adding a lock washer and a flat washer to to each bolt, if the starter has that much movement your likely going to wear the teeth on the starter and flywheel out from the starter moving around.
Click to expand...

Thank you BLACKJKU - that was my concern too! I should have thought of the washers - great idea!
 
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Rob R said:
Good Afternoon-

I have replaced the starter motor in my 2007 JK Sarah Unlimited. It is an old neighborhood jeep that I use to run around town and take to the beach. No beauty queen, 140K miles, and on her second engine.

The starter went out so I replaced it (verified it was indeed the starter). I was able to get the replacement starter in, but turning the bolts is very tough. I put them in finger tight to begin with so I don't think it's cross threaded. There is about 1MM of slop between the starter and bell housing and I can just barely wiggle the starter, but I can also see a gap. The vehicle starts fine, predictably, with no odd sounds.

Because it's so hard to swing the ratchet (even with the front end jacked up, I only get a click or two on the ratchet each time), I bought a "tight reach" extender for my socket wrench. It should allow me to get the last two turns on the bolt to snug it up.

My question is this - any foreseable problems here other than potentially stripping the bolt? I don't like the slop I see on the starter, but if it's normal, I'll simply leave well enough alone.

Thanks -

Rob
Click to expand...

Were the bolts difficult to remove as well as tighten? It sounds like there are issues either with the bolt length or the thickness of the replacement starter base.
 
Not sure about Jeeps, but I've replaced a few starters in my day on older big and small block GM muscle (Chevelles, Camaros) and the starter was threaded as well as the engine.
What I'm reading is the Jeep starter is not threaded?
 
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It has been a while but I think on my YJ the starter only had holes the bolts went through. Then treaded to the engine block.
 
Anybodyhome said:
Not sure about Jeeps, but I've replaced a few starters in my day on older big and small block GM muscle (Chevelles, Camaros) and the starter was threaded as well as the engine.
What I'm reading is the Jeep starter is not threaded?
Click to expand...

I used to drive older Fords, Buicks, and a couple of Japanese vehicles in the '70s and '80s. The oldest was a '56 Ford pickup. None of them had threaded starters. They were all held on by either two or three bolts into the block immediately in front of the flywheel. Since then, I've never had to replace a starter.
 
Rob R said:
Good Afternoon-

I have replaced the starter motor in my 2007 JK Sarah Unlimited. It is an old neighborhood jeep that I use to run around town and take to the beach. No beauty queen, 140K miles, and on her second engine.

The starter went out so I replaced it (verified it was indeed the starter). I was able to get the replacement starter in, but turning the bolts is very tough. I put them in finger tight to begin with so I don't think it's cross threaded. There is about 1MM of slop between the starter and bell housing and I can just barely wiggle the starter, but I can also see a gap. The vehicle starts fine, predictably, with no odd sounds.

Because it's so hard to swing the ratchet (even with the front end jacked up, I only get a click or two on the ratchet each time), I bought a "tight reach" extender for my socket wrench. It should allow me to get the last two turns on the bolt to snug it up.

My question is this - any foreseable problems here other than potentially stripping the bolt? I don't like the slop I see on the starter, but if it's normal, I'll simply leave well enough alone.

Thanks -

Rob
Click to expand...

If memory serves me right, your starter has the bolts that thread into the housing to mount it? One bolt longer than the other? Some starters had a shim from the factory. Did you notice a shim with your old starter? Also, did you clean any gunk on the threads on the bolts? Lastly, did you compare the length of the new starter housing to the old?
 
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