I've got a big move planned and while my wife will be flying the trip. I'll be with an overactive gaseous boxer in a thirty year old car sleeping in a tent. I'm psyched!
Anyway trying to get the old girl prepped as possible. My issue is this: every tenth or so time I try to start her my starter doesn't seem to engage the ring gear. Just spins and grinds a bit. What gives? Is this a common issue? Please don't tell me the ring gear is made of some sort of Swedish cheese!

 

The solenoid is failing to propel the gear engaging the flywheel. Change the starter, your easiest alternative... Even though the starter motor itself is working, the solenoid is failing and no one replaces these things anymore.

 

Seems like the solenoid would be easier to replace. Damn kids!. Thanks Lev!

 

the solenoid is part of the starter assembly on almost all new cars.

 

While it is always a part of the starter, (it has to be) it is replaceable and is a separate part, it is impractical to do so these days with the cheap aftermarket alternatives all over the place. Replacing the solenoid itself labor, and the unit, costs more than an entire "new" i.e. rebuilt starter...

 

I also have intermittent grindage on my 240. It's been that way for years! The previous owner installed a newish starter on it; which I presume was an attempt to fix this issue, but was not successful.

My point is, I don't know if its the teef on the wheel, teef on the starter, or a solenoid not doing it's thing properly sometimes. My bet is bad flywheel teeth is my issue. Gonna find out someday if I ever bother to expose the wheel.

My solution has been to put the car in gear (manual) then push the car back slightly with my foot! Aint gonna win you "Date of the Year" award, but it works for now!

 

Living with a bad solenoid, one that partially engages the flywheel, will over time damage the fly wheel teeth...

 

How much faith do you guys have in these rebuilt starters? Around $100-150?

My experience with starter solenoids is they usually stop making contact enough to even engage the starter. But hopefully I'm wrong, gonna try cleaning up the connections first.

 

There is a wide selection on line of both starters and solenoids for much less than $100. Quality? Well, who knows? Always a crapshoot but they carry warranties so look around do your due diligence.

 

Looks like there is supposed to be a nut on the top side of the starter...? Mine is MIA, probably not helping.
I tried to post a pic but I wasn't able to from my iPhone.

 

If the main nut was missing, the one that secures the + wire to the solenoid, you would be having NO starts!

 

See if this pic works, the main nut for the actual starter. looks like there should be one anyway.

 

pretty sure thats the pointy end of a bolt thats put in from the other side, and threads into the starter flange.

 

That's the back end of the top bolt that attaches the starter, the one that's a pain in the *** to get out... It's fine!

 

Well I feel stupid now... Thanks guys!

 

OLD starters on 240 used a nut on the end of the bolt. Can't say I have seen one, but I might have....

I think the "nutted" starters have been obsolete on these cars for many decades.

 

Cleaned and greased connections... Not a problem since! Love it when the fix is free. Thanks again guys!