Starter not meshing with flywheel

[sauce823]

Have an 89 ranger swapped 4.0. The trans is from the 89 2.9 and the starter bolted down isn't meshing with the flywheel unless you get go under with a crowbar and pry it. Is the position of the 2 years different?
Right now it's sitting in my work lot. I've gone through a few starters with the same problem. Bought the truck second hand after the swap.
Trans is an FM146

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[Angie]

Hi welcome to the forums....

I am not sure if I can answer all the problems, however I think more information is needed from you.

Was the 2.9 engine connected to a manual trans at the start? and is the 4.0L you have in there now connected to a manual trans?

Can you take a white marker and make a spot on the fly wheel and then turn the crank while you count the flywheel teeth to make sure the starter gear and flywheel have the same combination ?

When you say pry on it, what exactly do you mean?

And do the starters you have tried extend deep enough into the trans to connect with the fly wheel?

 

[sauce823]

The trans is from the 2.9 that was in it. Have to pry the body of the starter towards the frame to get it to turn the motor. The 4.0 is connected to the FM146 manual from the 2.9. When the starter that was in it shorted out I replaced it with the same one but have had the issue since.

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[Angie]

hi, ok so the truck was running after the swap, I was under the impression it didn't start after a swap.

Did you check the diameter of the spinning drive gear from the starter you took off first, with the diameter of the new ones you are putting back in to make sure they are the same drive gears?

almost sounds like this is the problem if you need to push the starter into the flywheel to get it to engage the flywheel.

Not 100% sure if manual flywheels and automatic flywheels are the same diameter with starter gears. that could be the problem that the PO who did the swap didn't explain to you.

(just tossing darts at the wall here) cheers

 

[sauce823]

I've been tossing darts since I bought it. Wasn't sure if since the trans is from the 2.9 that the starter might be clocked differently

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[RonD]

Automatic and manual trans starter motors are different.

And are you using the 4.0l flywheel/clutch?

If you are using the 2.9l flywheel then you need to use the 4.0l Automatic starter motor, not manual
The 2.9l clutch won't last as long with 4.0l power

Read here: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72018

 

[sauce823]

I have no idea what was used. The problem with buying a swap second hand

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[RonD]

If 4.0l manual trans starter isn't meshing, then "they" used the 2.9l flywheel and you either need to switch to 4.0l flywheel and clutch or get a 4.0l Automatic trans starter for now

 

[sauce823]

Don't have a fix just got rid of the truck after fighting it since February

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