I have a question about starter gear engagement on the flywheel. How anyone know far the starter gear is supposed to engage the ring gear on the flex plate. My starter works but I just get a metal on metal squeal of the starter spur gear grinding on the ring gear. I pulled the starter off and checked the solenoid. When it's not under load the pinion gear in the starter extends all of the way. Looking at the ring gear on the flex plate, it's clear that the teeth have been worn down on the corners by the starter gear but it doesn't look like the pinion gear on the starter is meshing even 1/4 of an inch onto the teeth when the solenoid extends the spur gear. The worn teeth on the flex plate covers maybe 75-80 degrees of sweep. I put a socket on the crank nut and turned it past the worn teeth and the starter will spin the engine but it won't even be a complete turn because once it gets to the worn teeth, it just stops.

Has anyone else had this problem? When I bought the Raider it had been sitting for about 5 years. The previous owner said it had crud in the tank and that's why he let it sit but I'm starting to think this was actually the problem. Can a weak solenoid cause poor, incomplete pinion gear engagement with the flex plate ring gear? I'm just trying to avoid cracking the engine and tranny if I don't have to. Thanks.

James

There are 2 different metal plates that go between the engine and transmission: one for automatic, the other for stick. Which do you have? The plates are different thicknesses.

Sorry, I guess that's a pretty important detail. I've got the automatic.

James

If the engine has been changed, often this minor difference in plate thickness is not even noticed....because why, wtf Mitsubishi? Why would it be different?