CAT Flywheel Teeth Missing

mills · October 14, 2019, 07:30:13 PM

Well, after a week of off and on messing with batteries, checking and re-checking wiring, rebuilding the starter, pulling it back out testing it again, I found that the 525B that I bought back this summer has two flywheel teeth missing. Looks kind of like the drunk loud mouth at your local redneck bar. They've been gone a while, but the rest of the teeth look to be OK. Moved the flywheel a few inches before re-installing the starter, and now it starts just fine...until the next time the two missing teeth line up with the bendix. >:( >:( >:(

Question: Is there an easy (easiest) way to roll the motor or flywheel just a little.

Maine logger88 · October 14, 2019, 08:03:09 PM

If the belt doesn't slip you can put a socket on the alternator to spin the engine. If that doesn't work a flex head ratchet off the front of the crank will

mike_belben · October 14, 2019, 11:52:14 PM

Next time u have the starter out find the gap tooth spot and make a marker or paint index mark on the crank pulley and some other stationary background spot. This way you can visually check to see its not lined up for trouble before starting and if so roll it over first.

Otherwise gaptooth could soon turn to meth mouth.

scsmith42 · October 15, 2019, 10:07:54 PM

Some flywheels have a replaceable ring gear for the starter. If yours has one you can remove the flywheel, use air impact hammer to remove the ring gear, turn it around, heat it consistently all around and then set it back over the flywheel.

You can also source a new ring gear but frequently you can simply turn them around as the lost teeth is usually only half the width of the tooth.