Starter spins, but no engagement. (96 4.0 OHV)

[superman22x]

Background:
This past winter, my flywheel warped so the starter would not engage and the starter was also replaced when the flywheel was replaced.

Now:
Last couple days, my truck has been making some funny noises when starting. Today, it was worse, so I crawled under the truck. Noticed on of the engine to transmission bolts wasn't all the way in, the one closest to the starter on the bottom. So I gave it a turn and it was tough to turn, but I tightened it a bit. Now the starter doesn't engage at all... Any ideas?
I did just check once more, and I do hear the solenoid engage, and I def hear the starter spinning.

 

[adsm08]

Pull the starter out and test it just to be sure. Check the flywheel too.

 

[swamprat]

starter my have gotten out of alingment. Quick easy thing to do is to remove starter and inpect teeth of starter and flywheel. If teeth look ok then reinstall an see what happens.

 

[superman22x]

Pulled the starter, and used the jumper cables to try and spin it and engage it. It did both fine on the jumper cables. All the teeth on the starter and flywheel look clean. And it looks like the starter should be engaging fine, but it doesn't, it completely missed the flywheel.

Is it possible for the starter to sping but not engage because it's not getting power somewhere, even though the solenoid works? Or is it possible that the gear is just loose on the shaft, so when it gets the resistance of the fly wheel, it doesn't spin the gear?

 

[swamprat]

5sp or auto? with starter out can you move flywheel? when you checked starter did the gear on starter jump out? can some one turn engine over by hand while you watch the flywheel turn to see if it is warped or broken?

 

[superman22x]

5sp or auto? with starter out can you move flywheel? when you checked starter did the gear on starter jump out? can some one turn engine over by hand while you watch the flywheel turn to see if it is warped or broken?

It's an auto. Don't have a way to turn the engine...

 

[Duane867]

Cheater bar and a large socket on the crank pulley bolt will do the trick.

SIlly question but did you also check the upper starter bolt to see if it was loose as well ?

 

[superman22x]

Cheater bar and a large socket on the crank pulley bolt will do the trick.

SIlly question but did you also check the upper starter bolt to see if it was loose as well ?

Don't have either of those... I'm on an intern and all my tools are two states away.

It was the bellhousing bolt that wasn't all the way in, although it was tight. Both starter bolts were in and tight.

 

[superman22x]

New starter fixed it. The gear spun loosely on the shaft in the starter.

 

[Duane867]

Glad you got her fixed up

 

[84bluebronco2]

Good Game!