starter gear spins but does not engage flywheel - e30 m50nv 260

[boyd_dave]

so im wrapping up my m50 swap and testing the wiring. when i turn the key to crank the motor, the starter sounds like its spinning really fast but does not engage the flywheel at all.

I am using a 92 m50nv motor mated to the getrag 260 using the m20 starter. I had the flywheel lightened and resurfaced to clear the oilpan. I know it clears fine and the motor turns over by hand.

Did I wire my starter wrong? the m20 starter has 4 posts (from 88 325is) one I know is ground and one is battery that gets the firewall connection and the alternator connection. The e36 wiring harness had 2 smaller starter connections that I connected just like the e30. the small connector from the e36 i put on the small terminal and the larger one on the larger terminal...

anyone have any ideas?

THANKS!

Dave

[99em1]

Do you hear any click before it spins?

[boyd_dave]

no. just instantly spins. thanks for helping.

im realizing that the solenoid is not engaging/powering up to move the starter gear forward. but im not sure what ive done wrong with the wiring... should i double up the small wires onto the same post? or swap the wires? I would then have to change the round electrical connection...seems counterintuitive, but i dont know.


what do you think?

dave

[e46s54dr]

If the two wires on the starter are reversed, the started will spin and not engage like what you're expiriencing. It happen to me awhile back after I rebuilt my m20 starter. I know yours is a 24v but it's setup pretty much the same. If not then your solenoid is the culprit. Btw, is the grounding cable form the started to the solenoid still connected?

[sharky]

solinaoid could be stuck, give it a whack with a BFH, if not find a good used starter

[nando]

double check the starter wiring.

I think the M50 starter is similar:


Upper left (smaller post) should be pin 15 of the C101. Lower right (larger post) should be pin 18 of the C101.

[boyd_dave]

here's a link to a video that is exactly how my car sounds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eVtio58he8

I definitely have the m20 starter installed with a shaved m20 flywheel. I just checked and it is wired correctly.

I haven't hit it with a hammer yet to see if its stuck...

[sharky]

solinoid isnt engaging/ starter gear toast. Swap in another unit but hit it w/ BFH just incase

[boyd_dave]

thanks to everyone who helped me out with this. a big F hammer did not work. removed starter (what a bitch to remove...a lot of extensions and ujoint adpaters...) and the bendix was not only seized but gear was seriously hard to turn.



got a rebuilt from shmucks/orielly and its good to go!


Dave