burnoutboy

Agreed, but if the starter was what started smoking I'm betting it's not gonna want to work 100% now LOL.

marlinspike

And, naturally, the starter is a PITA to take out. 3 hours on my back on concrete, in this weather.

burnoutboy

If the missing tooth is right there then I'd start looking at the flywheel as then likely culprit.

burnoutboy

Jeebus, what kinda car is this? Something German?

Fabrik8

If it spins on the bench, and it isn't working under load, the starter is bad or you have some strange electrical problem. If the starter worked, it would spin on the bench and start the engine obviously.

I guess it's possible that you're getting too low of a voltage at the starter to actually spin it properly, so the solenoid would connect power to the motor but it would all turn into heat instead of rotation. But usually if that is the case, the solenoid won't engage either..

marlinspike

Naturally. Mercedes W126 (was a 380SE but has a modified M117 in it).
So, when I took the last starter that gap was front and center FWIW. Anything I can do to make it not a problem short of replacing the flywheel? Like sanding it down smooth? It's only half a tooth that's missing.

burnoutboy

If the gap is front and center again when you remove this one I'd say you're in the market for a new flywheel, not sure but I don't see how it could be repaired reliably.

nftuatn

You could weld up the tooth and regrind it down to be a tooth....and take the starter and get a set of jumper cables and hook power to the solenoid and ground it and see if it works...make sure you out your foot on it...it will jump around if not....

marlinspike

Duane, PM me a quote on fixing the flywheel and replacing it if it's something you would do. (I can get a free flywheel).

nftuatn

Ok Richard it will be a few minutes..maybe an hour or so