Chevy clicking reluctant to start

[daleb]

I know this is an old problem but it is persistant.

I replaced my starter with a repower high performance unit with heat shield. I has doubled up power supply 18 month and 1500 miles ago.

It consistently refuses to engage when the starter button is pressed giving the usual 'click'. Repeated pressing will sometimes get it going but it often needs rocking in gear to get it going and is often slow to turn over.

Is there a once and for all fix for this. I plan to run and extra wire fromt ehbuttin to the solenoid as per AK's advice but is there more I can do or a better starter motor that will solve the problem or will additional shims sort it, I currently have two 0.5mm shims in there.

TVM

Dale

[craggle]

What type of start switch have you got?

I have a small press button switch but it is not man enough to cope with the current required to operate the starter solenoid. I wired the solenoid through a 35 amp relay then operate the relay with the switch.

The clearance between the gear and the flywheel is quite important but it's difficult to set without taking the bellhousing off the engine. If you remove the starter you may be able to see if the teeth have heavy wear marks on there faces. If they have try adding another shim and see if it improves.

Craig.

[wilf]

Also double check earth straps from engine to chassis.

[Spanish Dave]

I had a similar problem on a 289 Ford which used to drive me crazy. After trying 3 different starters with no success, I put a remote solenoid in the circuit as well and the problem has never come back. I have done the same on the Chevy in my AK, but it isn't on the road yet so I can'r really comment. As you can see from the pic the solenoid makes an excellent junction box too ... battery +ve and live feed to the starter on the left, when the starter switch or button is fired up (small terminal on the left) it sends a full voltage to the blue wire on the right which goes to the solenoid on the starter motor.
These solenoids are only a few dollars and do the same job (I think) that Craig has done on his car.

[mikey]

Rocking helps it. Are you sure that the bendix is not sticking on the fywheel (not releasing) and when you rock it this relases the bendix - more common with skew type. This could be a tlerance issue which as somebody else posted is important.

[AKBandit]

I had similar problems and fitted a solenoid, as per earlier posts. Never had a problem since.