starter/flywheel alignment

[bighillman]

Hey all, I'm new to the forum, but have been turnin wrenches for a while. I've got a 99 f-250 powerstroke, manual transmission, and it runs terribly. Well, it starts as good as it runs, and I ended up having to put a starter on it. I pulled the old one off, and it had a spot in the nose cone where the flywheel had rubbed about 1/4" deep. I went to put the new starter on, and it wouldn't line up. It's hitting on the flywheel where the other starter clearanced itself. I'm not sure whether I've lost a thrust bearing or what. I'm not able to get any end play in the crankshaft, but somthing isn't lining up right. Are there two different starters for this thing or something? I just wanna know if anyone has ever seen this before. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[pipelayerjdh]

Welcome to the Forum.

It may be the wrong starter, but I'm not sure if there are more than one for that application.

[Turbodude]

i almost wonder if the flywheel bolts haven't gotten stripped out or elongated somehow...I don't think that the input shaft of the tranny or the pilot bearing would have anything to do with how the starter lines up with the flywheel...i wonder too, if the bellhousing is about to tear off the truck and that is why its not lining up. check and see for any cracks in the bellhousing and if you can check to see if those flywheel bolts have been hurt...you may find that there aren't many in there and that is why the flywheel is off...

[bighillman]

I figured it out. The thrusts were gone enough to let the flywheel walk into the starter nose cone. A wierd situation, but the motor is definately junk.