Starting problem

[vara4]

Ok I have sandrail with a Corvair motor in it, Drove it for many years with no problems.
Well my son in law came for a visit and I let him drive it. when he came back from his ride, I seen him pop the clutch out and it stalled.
Now I have not got it to start since then. I never had any grinding sounds or anything like that before. Anyway when I got in to take it to put it away it would not engage the flywheel. I thought well the solenoid went out and replaced it. Still would not engage, Just free spinning. So I pulled it out and took and had the starter rebuilt. I went and picked it up and put it back on and it's still free spinning. So I pulled it out again and as my luck runs I set it down and it rolled over bumped something an broke a ear off where the bolt goes thru. So I tried to order a new one which no one had. I ended up buying a High torque starter, very nice too. I installed that, well now it's grinding. so I tried to shim it but then it didn't even make contact so I took out the shims and put it back on still grinding. Well I have built a lot of stuff back in the day but this is my first Corvair. After listening to others talking about how the fly wheels can come loose since there are 3 pieces to them and throw everything off center. Could this have caused to pressure plate to shift enough, to where the starter is not making good contact with the ring gear. I looked at the teeth on both the Pressure Plate and Starter and they are all good, heck the starter is brand new like I said. And like I said this only happened after I seen him coming to a stop and he popped the clutch and it stalled and it has not started since. This is why I am thinking the fly wheel may have started to come apart and is throwing everything off. I tried to move it thru the open starter hole, but could not. Still, something else is going on here. Anyone else ever see anything like this or have the same problem??? In any case I think I am gonna have to pull this thing apart, just hoping there's something stupid that I might have missed that would be easier. Thanks Kurt

[rspears]

I'm not a Corvair guy, but as I understand they're a unique beast. The ring gear that the starter engages is on the pressure plate, not the flywheel; and the flywheel in stock form is riveted, and as the rivets loosen over time, the outer two pieces float away from the center which is bolted to the crank, knocking around on the inside of the bellhousing. From the Corvair guys, if you have a stock, riveted flywheel it will cause you problems, it's just a matter of when. There's a guy who has made a business out of taking the stock, riveted flywheels and bolting them together using locknuts - here's a video of the guys explaining some of the issues - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA9GUTUyRqk
Sounds to me like when your SIL popped the clutch he screwed up the pressure plate, and thus your ring gear. I see an engine & tranny drop in your future....

[vara4]

Ya that's what I am thinking too, and your right the Ring Gear is on the Pressure plate.
And I have heard them say that when the flywheel starts to come apart, it will throw everything out of alignment.
Was not sure if it was enough to keep the starter from engaging the Ring Gear though.
Since this thing has a roll cage around the motor, it will be interesting to say the least.
I am sure, it will have to come out of the bottom, like VW's I have done in the past.

[NTFDAY]

A free spinning starter is generally an indication of a weak or broken bendix drive.

[rspears]

I agree with Ken, it's usually the bendix, but then most ring gears are a shrink fit around the flywheel, not able to float free. Thinking about the pressure plate bolted to the back 1/3 of the flywheel, and the center of the flywheel being bolted to the crank it sounds like your rivets got stretched when SIL popped the clutch, and the outer pieces of the flywheel along with the pressure plate are now floating. I'd bet a dollar to a dime you need a new flywheel, and you need to get one of the updated bolted units. Like I said, I'm not a Corvair guy but it makes sense as I think through the parts & pieces, and yes, even the stock Corvair mimics the VW, everything dropping out the bottom. A good lift is your friend!

[vara4]

Ya, no the Bendix ain't broken it's brand new.
The Flywheel is gonna have to be replaced, it came apart and now slides down to the bottom in the bell housing and since the pressure plate is pressing on it, the Pressure Plate goes down with it. The starter is mounted up on top of the bell housing so it's not contacting with it. But thanks got it figured out now. I'll be pulling everything apart and ordering a after market one piece Flywheel. They did a 3 piece Flywheel because of bad harmonic's between the 5 and 6 cylinders and it made a funny sound in the car. I am in a noisy sand rail and couldn't care less about the noise, while the wind is smacking me in the face. LOL!!! Here is a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA9GUTUyRqk

[Dave Severson]

Many many moons ago a friend of mine had a turbo Corvair! He kept thinking it was a Corvette and drove it like one which led to numerous engine ka-booms! We were sharing a shop at the time and (not by choice) I became quite proficient at dropping the engine out of the thing! A hoist and heavy duty transmission jack make the job a bit easier to do, back in them days we did it with a floor jack and lots of tugging and grunting, things should be a lot easier to get at in your buggy, anyway.

[TOW'D]

I've been hanging on to a 4 carb Corvair engine and transaxle for 45 years. Now it just seems to be big lump.
I haven't even looked at it for about the same amount of time.
Good video on that flywheel problem
I'll bet that buggy zooms along
cheers
Hank