Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines Starter problems

1954 261 starter--linkage does not seem to engage solenoid every time or completely (floor starter). Advice on adjusting linkage? Or other?

Thanks for suggestions...T.K.

Dear Tk;

You may have a problem with the 'gear drive' unit, which is inside the Starter. Those 'foot' starters (linkage) usually work right, or not at all.

There is no adjustment, pull the floor board & look it all over. If It's working okay, you need a new drive.

Good luck.

Is it not hitting the ring gear and grinding, or is the pinion hitting the flywheel but the starter isn't switching on?

A lot of times the contacts in the switch wear out, and you can either replace that or take it apart, rotate the disc to virgin metal, and put it back together.

If the linkage is worn or sloppy, the electrical contact will be made but the starter gear will not correctly engage the flywheel, even with the pedal pushed down all the way. I replaced the fixed-length link with an adjustable "turnbuckle" to eliminate the problem of the starter motor spinning but not always engaging the flywheel.