My starter at the flywheel is making a horrible noise and throwing sparks I got a new starter and installed it and it is doing the same thing I have a mini starter power master I got the new one cause I figured bearings were bad any ideas ?

 

What year, model, engine, transmission (manual or auto)? Did the problem occur before changing the first starter? Did the starter come with any instructions about shimming it?

Good luck!!!

 

It’s a 69 cutlass with a 455 and a200 4R trans back story is cat would not start so I took the starter off and had it checked it was good I put it back on a still no start just clicking well the problem turned out to be bad ground cables at battery replaced and car started right up then after 10 min of running it started making a horrible noise and throwing sparks so I figured bearings were bad in starter causing it not to spin fast enough so I got a new starter and tried it same results car ran great before engine only has 4000 miles on it

 

 

Either the flywheel is worn out or the starter isn't quite in the right place. Sometimes you have to shem a starter to get it to fit right.

 

I used the same shimes that were on it

 

Flywheel is in good shape also

 

Are you using knurled bolts? Have you checked the gear alignment to the flex plate as per the installation instructions?

 

The original starter I been using since I rebuilt the cutlass had shims and I put them back on the same way I took it off.

 

And used the same bolts which are knurled

 

Shimming is based on the particular starter in use, not the previous one. Go through the installation instructions and set the one your using up. There is a reason its throwing sparks and grinding. Get new bolts, the knurling aligns the starter square to the block to the flex plate.

 

Well that’s what I did the original starter I hooked up like it was already running for over a year and the new one I shimed with the new shimes it came with and new bolts set it to the space per specs

 

When did the sparks occur while the engine was already running or while trying to crank it?

 

Ok so I had time after work today and I put the new starter back on which is a power master mini #9510 and the problem is I do not have 1/16 clearance between the flywheel and the starter pinion when the starter is pulled in it is hitting the flywheel by about 1/16 is there shim to use? Am I missing something? The shins that come with it give clearence in the teeth I looked up on power master and it seams to be the right starter any help would be appreciated thanks

 

You need one of these:
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pwm-624/overview/

 

I’m looking at the initial picture & struggling a little w/ perspective but there is a nasty crack or gap above the starter gear. Seems to me something is bent, broken or cracked. As noted by oldcutlass, starter shims aren’t going to correct that misalignment & I didn’t look up the part he mentioned but a good inspection of mounting area of starter snout, mating surface of block, bent and or un knurled bolts, etc. would all be in order. Not sure that’s any help but I’m tryin.

 

Powermaster 9510 Installation Instructions

 

Thanks for all yalls help the round shim did the trick back on the road

 

Congrats, now on to the ice cream stand.