Fm146 swap starter question

[Tallpaul]

I just swapped in a fm146 for my a4ld. Is the starter different for the 5spd, because my old starter will not engage with the flywheel, it just spins. Please help!

 

[adsm08]

The starter should be the same on a 2.9.

The 4.0 did have different starters for auto and manual, but the 2.9 shouldn't.

 

[PetesPonies]

I know they are listed that way . . but it doesn't make sense to me. Since they use the same trans . . isn't the bell the same as well?

 

[Tallpaul]

Ok I think my starter has gave out somewhere during the swap, because the gear won't expand to the end. However, I have a donor ranger that had an almost new starter in it. The ranger starter gear will extend. I'm going to try it on my bronco II. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Tallpaul]

Come to find out. I forgot to remove the spacer on the back of the crankshaft from the auto. I removed that and now the starter fits and works fine. However, I am not getting any spark now. I replaced the oil pump, so I might have knocked it out of time when I removed the distributor. I am not getting any fire at the plugs or at the coil. Any ideas?