Grinding knocking sound upon ignition

[Hunter22sk801]

Howdy. I usually have to replace the starter on my 94 4.0L 4x4 manual Ranger every 3-6 months because of chewed bendix teeth. They don't sell starter shims for my truck. So I put in a new flywheel 1 month ago thinking it would solve the issue. Today it sounded like my starter bendix chewed out and wouldn't catch so I replaced the starter but the bendix teeth look fine, it's the flywheel teeth that are narly. I turned it over and it starts up but a horrible grinding knocking sound ensues from flywheel area (I think) and I can't shift into gear. Neither forward nor rearward push starting work, it just stops hard. It seems to be spitting shards of metal out of the flywheel hole so I'm not going to start it again. Any thoughts?

P.S. I simultaneously have a very hard time shifting into gear once all my liquids are hot- could be a clutch line bubble and may be unrelated.

Thanks y'all.

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

Can you shift transmission with engine off?

If so then yes there is a clutch issue as well.

4.0l was not known for starter motor or flywheel issues so something is out of specification.
I believe manual trans and automatic trans need different starter motors

 

[Vincenthdfan]

Welcome to TRS

I believe manual trans and automatic trans need different starter motors

Yes they do indeed require different starters.

The flywheel sits in a different location in relation to the crankshaft on a manual transmission set up versus where a flex plate sits with an automatic.

The noses on the starters are different lengths (the manual starter nose is shorter if I recall correctly).

I just did an auto to manual tranny swap on my 93 4.0 and made certain I swapped starters and it works perfectly.

To the original poster....I would definitely check to ensure you have the correct starter installed, if you do not it would certainly cause your issues.

 

[adsm08]

Sounds to me like the locator hole on the block plate may be egged out, letting the starter sit in the wrong place.

Or something is horribly wrong in the engine.

 

[Hunter22sk801]

The mounting holes on the block look fine to me, the starter seems to fit fine. Looks like the bendix gear is not disengaging from the flywheel, don't know why.

I'll have to change the flywheel but I'm worried why it got chewed out less than s month after replacing it. Is there s waybyo push start with the starter removed? What would I have to do with the wiring?

 

[Hunter22sk801]

Hey y'all. Turned out the gave me an automatic tranny starter and it chewed my flywheel clean. Parts store said they'll pay for the repair (new flywheel etc)