I have an industrial flathead six, 217 C.I., engine #T121nnnnn, built in 1941 (in a Clark tug).
I installed the starter after a rebuild, and the starter doesn't mesh with the flywheel - it just spins. It's a manual (foot pedal type) bendix, so I know the starter gear is pushing out to the proper position.
It's one of two things:
1. All the flywheel ring gear teeth are worn so low, none will engage.
or
2. Wrong starter/flywheel combination.
It's a 10" clutch, and 9 teeth on the starter gear. I havn't counted the teeth on the ring gear yet, but it should be 146 teeth, right?
Before I buy parts and begin disassembly to replace the ring gear, has anyone ever seen this before? Can all the teeth on the ring gear be worn so much? Is it possible that the starter and flywheel don't match (flywheel too small)?
What's the correct height of the flywheel teeth on a new/good ring gear?
Thanks.....