Nylon Starter Gears and Truck batteries.

So I mounted a group 24 deep cycle battery behind the seat on my little Ford.

Got some nice new battery cables all installed nice and neat.

Jumped on it and turned the key, spun to beat hell, except one niggley little problem. It didn't want to start so I was cranking it a bit. Then I noticed the engine was slowing down, but the starter wasn't.

Took a look at the plastic starter gear and ALL the teeth were gone.

The engine is a 95 but the starter is the original 1973 edition.

Guess 40 year old nylon can't handle big battery power.

Good thing I have a spare with a steel gear floating around the garage somewhere.

40 year old plastic, id say it was past time for a new gear lol.

Be sure to count teeth on the steel ones, some are one tooth off and will chew up the ring gear.

The spare I have is off the same size engine, so i'm hoping it will fit. If not, its back to yankin a rope till I swap in the 15.5 I have here.

I found a starter with a good gear and swapped it out. Its still hard starting and doesn't want to idle, but it will be good enough to push snow till I get space/time on the bench to do the carb and reclean the tank.

Starter gear couldve been half chewed off before you tried it - metal gears are only good for steel ring gears, if used on an aluminum flywheel ring gear- itll eat the aluminum right off.

I prefer nylon gears , mainly if they do break - it wont damage anything - ive had nylon gear last for years before replacing.

The issue could be with the starter motor, if it isnt engaging the ring gear high enough itll chew the teeth off the starter gear by only half engaging the teeth.

Ive used high CCA batteries for years with no ill effects on my tractors - just kicks a bit more juice to turn em over easier - specially the twin cylenders.

The starter i found has a nylon gear. The old one was engaging fine, I watched it shred itself. I think it was just old and worn.
The original engine ran for 20 years, then they swapped in a 20 yr newer I/C engine and used the original starter.
The new starter is from an I/C engine.
Now It spins as fast as I could ever want. and I have the amps to spare for my electric lift setup. and for a rear winch later.