Starter Motor+Engine Balance Q:

[kevin-design]

Ok, so I'm STILL working on my clutch replacement job.
Question #1:
Info posted to the forums and from dealers has me somewhat convinced that if my valeo pressure plate and spec single mass steel flywheel have both been neutral balanced, that there is no need to currently 'match balance' them- and that the yellow dot on the carolina clutch pressure plate doesn't indicate a particular orientation (as theres no dot on the flywheel).
So, I have everything bolted on up to the bellhousing (+ the hydraulic cylinder). I wanted to start the engine and rev a bit with no transmission, exhaust, or anything south of the bellhousing. The goal would be to discern whether I do in fact have some balance issues before reassembling completely. Does this sound like a reasonable plan?

This leads us to problem #2:
So I pluged the starter on so that I could complete the plan, and much to my dismay- its still having problems. I can hear the solenoid click it on, but no turning. So I unbolted it and ran it on the workbench with jumper cables. Grounding the body with one cable and touching the + to either of two terminals, I can make the solenoid actuate (gear extends), or the motor spin. However, connecting + to both terminals doesn't allow for both. Isn't the mechanism such that actuating the solenoid should bridge a connection to then spin the motor? What should I be looking at to fix the motor? I have had both the motor side (looks pretty good, really) and the solenoid side apart- and machined the contacts on the solenoid as they were pretty scarred. Still no deal. Any help appreciated!

Finally- one BIG thing I learned this time round is that you can take the clutch ball stud out by turning the hex CLOCKWISE(from outside the bellhousing)-- Its all quite clear to me now that I had the opportunity to see the backside. This lets you install the stud from either direction, which allows you to smoothly install the bellhousing. Too bad I stripped it with my torque wrench as apparently it doesn't click in the reverse direction.

Thanks again!
-kevin

 

[Louis Bartay]

I just replaced the duel mass flywheel and pressureplate and throw out bearing on my 96 LT4 and used GM parts and had no balanceing problems but I would not start the engine util the ZF trans in back in place as the throw bearing in made on the pressure plate.So no to question one.

Take the starter to a starter generator rebuild shop and have them check it. I think your starter is a gear reduction design like mt LT4. As the solenoid is crimped on not like the old small block Chevys that had two screw that held it to the motor. Hope is helps, let us know howit turns out.