6.2L Diesel Starter

[ronha...@earthlink.net]

I have a 1984 K5 with a 6.2L Diesel with starter problems.
I know it is missing the back mounting bracket. I just want to know if
this is the only problem.
Right now when you try to start it the starter grinds bad.
Does this start require shimming like other GM starter or is not in the
right place becuase of the missing bracket?

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

All I can offer is personal experience on this one...on a 1984 GMC Sierra
C1500 6.2L pickup truck...

1. Is your starter original?
2. Have you taken it off and looked at it?

I don't know how much of a difference the third support bracket makes. I
tested my starter with it off and didn't see a problem. The first two bolts
are very important. Make sure they haven't sheared.

The starter on my truck had ground badly for years. It wasn't until the
solenoid burned up that I decided to find out why. I dropped the starter to
find that the casting around the drive assembly was broken and resting up in
the area where the starter's shaft normally is located. It had just cracked
off.

Upon dropping the starter I had it rebuilt by a good independent automotive
electric shop. What I got back was a night and day difference from what I
had brought in for repair. (Yes, it was the same starter...just a before and
after.) Putting the "freshened" starter in place resulted in a noticeable
difference. Starts were stronger with much less grinding. (I had to have the
flexplate replaced in the truck as well...now it starts and cranks very
nicely.)

I don't recall ever having any shims or other adjusting devices in place on
my starter. It was just the three bolts and any applicable wiring.

William The Guesser

[ronha...@earthlink.net]

I was given the truck because of the starter problems.
Here is the story as I know it. It is originally a Military truck so it
had 2 alternators and batteries and a 24 volt starter. It was converted
over to 1 alternator and battery and 12 volt start before they bought
it.
They decided to hook up the other alternator and install another
battery. This then supplied the starter with 24 volts. The claimed the
starter died and broke one of the 2 bolts.
They installed a new starter and unhooked the second alternator and
battery. They were never able to get it to work right so they gave it
to me. They're maybe more to the story that they are not admitting.
I looked at the flex plate and it looks good the starter looks good. I
plan on going to the Chev dealer today to buy the missing bracket and
pick up a shim kit.
Is there anything else to look at?

[Whitelightning]

<ronha...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:1125409098....@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

Yeah, it should have two batteries wired in parallel, pos to pos, neg to
neg for increased amperage.
24 volt to a starter designed for 12 volt aint going to last too long.
I got out of the service before we got rid of the Dodge junk heap 5/4 ton
M880 4X4 and M890 4X2 trucks.
These were 12 volt everything. Now then, if it got a radio rig slide in the
bed like a slide in
camper, then it got a 24 volt alt to run just the radio gear, the batteries
for this were in the conex
unit that held the radio gear. It was my understanding in talking with guys
who were in after I got out,
that the GM set up was the same, and specs here seem to agree with that,
http://www.olive-drab.com/images/od_cucv_datasheet.gif
Uncle Sam was trying to save money by using off the shelf
civilian vehicles with minimal modifications, such as not having everything
24 volt. For what it cost for one
M715 5/4 ton 4X4 Kiaser "jeep" the services could get 2 M880 dodge 5/4 ton
4X4s. Of course they got what they
paid for too. The 318 2 bbl was under powered. The electronic ignition
system that was supposed
eliminate cold weather and wet weather starting problems was worthless in
wet weather. The floor boards
rotted out because the rubber mat had a fiber isolation that stayed wet,
also caused more than a few fires
when it shorted out the high beam switch. The carter carbs were junk. The
front hub set up on the 4X4
was a pain in the butt to work on. Required special puller and press tool
to change a rotor or bearing.
Up untill this idea came about inventory was easier too. Every vehicle used
the same head lamps, tail lights,
fuel gauge, voltage gauge, alternator, you get the drift. Every vehicle
used flat glass every were, made replacing busted
glass a cinch as well as easy to install bullet "proof" glass every where.
Notice the HUMVEE has flat glass.
2 different batteries covered just about everything with wheels or tracks.
I digress
Whitelightning