I have a few teeth in bad shape in my starter ring gear (and my mouth, I keep the dentist in pirelli's) causing the starter to crunch gears. I will be having the tranny removed at the end of the week to replace the torque converter (hopefully thats the problem) so I am hoping to get the starter ring gear fixed or replaced whatever... do I need to purchase a new flex plate (BIGBUX) or can I buy just the ring gear seperately ? Or better still can it be fixed by a skilled welder ? what to do ......
As you are probably aware, the meshing teeth are welded to the flex plate itself so even if you were able to by the correct pitch teeth, by the time you got it welded and balanced, not to mention having to heat treat the flex plate to ensure no enbrittlement has set in would have been cheaper to get a new one. Plenty of people doing manual conversions (me included), you maybe able to get a good second hand one.
There would be heaps of good flexplate/ring-gears around. Try Amec/Cresta/BR motorsport or just on this forum. You shouldn't need to spend big bucks. Have you had a quote for TX removal?
Try a good transmission shop Replacing ring gears is easy, especially if they do there own torque converter rebuils. IF not get them to sent it to there converter rebuilder.
Why would you do that????? The TX & T/Conv are separated from the flex plate( 4 X 10mm bolts) the TX removed (with what that entails)and flex plate/ring gear then unbolted from the crankshaft. Can't imagine that a TT auto flexplate and an NA flexplate would be much different, could be wrong though, but your problem could be solved for about $50
thanks for that... I would imagine the flex plates to be identical on both so will pm you at cresta. I may as well have it on hand to give to the mechanic for his appraisal and if there is a difference it will show up then, so its on to get things organised... Cheers all
Would replacing the flexplate make the starting sound quieter? Mine doesnt appear to have any missing teeth (i dont think), but it is kinda loud and raspy while starting, specially when compared to my mates' cars (Toyotas), which are smooth and quiet (chchchchbrrrrrrrr, instead of my KrrKrrrKrrkrrrbrrrrr)
Brilliant description I can almost hear it from here (hear). If it sounds unusuall, could be the starter motor, or just a loose starter motor, best shot, remove the starter, inspect ring-gear etc etc
I've got a TT auto flex plate in great shape.... Let me know if you are looking for a TT one. Cheers, Tom
Well, without recording the sounds its the best i could do The sound itself isnt unusual, just kind of old-sounding. Like the tolerances are out... I will have a look at the starter to see if there is any adjustment possible...
Thanks for that too Thanks Tom, I have an N/A flex plate on its way from John at Cresta, I am hoping that it is the same as the TT, nobody yet can tell me so I bought it anyway to have on hand. The news is I have to replace the transmission and I am currently trying to buy one, but I will still need another flex plate, pm me your details so if I need it I can get hold of you in a hurry perhaps..trying to get this done before the christmas break, end of next week. Thanks again:biggrin:
zcar91 had a similar noise on one of his TT's and the problem was that the bolts attaching the flex plate to the torque convertor were loose. I can't remember exactly how we gained access to the bolts but we tightened them up with the gearbox still attached (is there an inspection hatch? or maybe through starter motor hole?). It was much quieter once we'd tightened up the bolts.
