What's this?

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 12:46 pm

The Fiat Gods are after me again. I started my 72 and heard this godawful racket. It sounded just like the bendix in the starter was hitting the flywheel. After pulling the flywheel cover off, this little half washer came out. Does anyone know what it could be? The car doesn't make any more noise when running, but is it safe to drive?

http://gallery.italiancarclub.com/124og ... 5.JPG.html

ventura ace · Post by **ventura ace** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:12 pm

How big is it?

alvon

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 1:24 pm

that can't be good! meh, just drive it 'til you have problems....lol

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 3:30 pm

that looks like the washer off of the starter armature-it keeps the starter drive from extending too far and wearing into the starter housing

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 4:40 pm

Does that mean I shouldn't drive it? I wonder how it came out of the starter to begin with.

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:48 pm

mdrburchette wrote:Does that mean I shouldn't drive it? I wonder how it came out of the starter to begin with.

Drive it all you want, just whatever you do don't start it. lol.

Good call though Mark, I wouldn't recognize anything like that. IF that's really what it is you should be ok (i mean fix it ASAP, but don't worry too much) as long as your car starts right up and you don't require excessive starter use. Another thing that would help is if your battery is almost dead. I know it sounds like I'm joking, but seriously... it'll keep that starter drive from spinning (and extending) very fast (and far). What else could that piece be?

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 5:54 pm

oh, and I guess something I didn't think of: if this is what Mark says it is, then I'd wonder about the other half of it. if it's jammed up in the starter gears it could cause some damage. Better to be without any of it than part of it.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:56 pm

The piece that came out is actually made as a half washer/circle. It wasn't broken in half. I drove the car and can't seem to find anything amiss. I guess it will show up when I'm on a roadtrip.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Mon Mar 13, 2006 10:06 pm

does it sound normal when you operate the starter? As for the low battery advice, that isn't a good idea. Operating the starter with a low battery will cause the contacts in the solenoid to burn as well as the starter brushes and armature

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:18 am

There are no abnormol noises from the starter. I have another starter I took off my car when we changed clutches and I can't see a piece that resembles what fell out of my car. I'm going to check another release bearing I have to see if anything resembles this piece and call the company that built this new racing clutch to see if they recognize it. This car baffles me with it's wierd crap!

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:41 am

it would be helpful to have some idea of the size of that piece, but since I'm not familiar with your clutch it could be something from that

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:52 pm

The meat of the washer is 7/8 wide and the diameter is about 1 3/4. Kind of hard to measure since it's bent.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:22 pm

oh, that's way too large to be the starter thrust washer. Maybe something that holds the pressure plate together

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:34 pm

I called the clutch manufacturer and they told me they have nothing like that on their clutch assemblies. I'm just going to drive it and hope it doesn't puke any more parts.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:18 pm

I guess it would help to learn how to read a tape measure. From inside circle to outer edge it's 7/16"