Most people get irritated by the annoying grinding noise coming out of their automobiles. If you find yourself in such a case, you need some alignment changes to fix the problem.
Several research proved that many methods exist to align the starter with the flywheel. Aside from the fact that your automobile produces irritating sounds, it can also cause more trouble if the starter and flywheel are not appropriately aligned.
You need to know that the starter is an essential part of an ignition system in an automobile, and it is made up of elements such as pinion and armature.
Before we dive into aligning the starter with a flywheel, let’s first understand what these two additives are and how they work together. The flywheel is a big round disc hooked up at the engine’s crankshaft. It shops rotational electricity and facilitates holding a regular rotational velocity for the machine.
Alternatively, the starter motor is an electric-powered motor responsible for cranking the engine to start it.
When the starter is engaged, it rotates a small tool (gear) and meshes with the flywheel’s tooth to create the rotational power essential to start the engine.
Now that we recognize the significance of these two additives. Let us concern ourselves with the steps required to align the starter with the flywheel:
Step 1: Preparing the Essential Tools
Gather some of the tools listed before you begin this alignment method. Here are some of the tools needed during the process;
- Pry Bar
- Jack Stand
- Flashlight
- Socket set.
Step 2: Locate the Starter and Flywheel
The starter is generally positioned at the engine block, usually near the bottom, and is easily recognizable by its cylindrical form.
While the flywheel is set up on the engine’s crankshaft and positioned at the machine’s rear.
You may additionally need a flashlight to get a clear view of the flywheel.
Step 3: Positioning the Pry Bar between the Starter and Flywheel
Position the pry bar between the starter and the engine block.
Gently pry the starter far from the engine block until you can see the distance between the starter and the flywheel.
Step 4: Check for any Damage around the Alignment
Now that you have confirmed the gap between the starter and flywheel, it is time to check the alignment.
Look for any signs of wear or damage on the tooth of the flywheel and the starter equipment.
If you find any damage, making the necessary changes before proceeding with the remaining steps is advisable.
Step 5: Adjust the Alignment
Adjusting the alignment can only be done after you confirm that the teeth on the flywheel and starter equipment appear in a good state.
Use the socket set to loosen the bolts that maintain the starter in the proper position. Now, lightly regulate the starter up or down till you are certain the starter tools are consistent with the flywheel’s tooth.
Step 6: Tighten the Bolts
Once the starter is nicely aligned, use the socket set to tighten the bolts that hold the starter in the right place.
While tightening the bolts, be careful not to over-tighten the bolts, as this could cause some damage to the starter or engine block.
Step 7: Test the Alignment
After successfully completing the 6th step, it is time to check the alignment.
The irritating noise would not be present if you successfully fixed the alignment. Nevertheless, If you still face some troubles, you should follow these steps again.
If the engine works easily without any irregular sounds, the alignment is accurate.
In addition, it’s vital to note that proper alignment of the starter and flywheel is not the best essential for starting the engine; however, it also can have an effect on the general performance and lifespan of the engine.
A misaligned starter and flywheel can begin to cause wear and tear on each component, which can lead to premature failure and pricey repairs.
Conclusion
Ultimately, aligning the starter with a flywheel is an easy procedure that may be completed with some basic knowledge from this article.
By following the steps mentioned above, you can ensure that your engine begins easily and runs successfully.
Remember to always take a look for signs of wear and tear or damage on each of the flywheel and starter tools before trying to align them.
Avoid rushing when doing this because that is the only way to make sure that the alignment is correct.