6V v.s. 12V starter

[KingCarGuyZ]

So I have a old 6V starter rewound for 12V that died the other day and I was looking at getting a new one (Tried cleaning solenoid and grounds, battery at 13 volts) . I found some reasonably priced self supported ones On orielys website, but I wanted to know how many teeth the throw out gear should have for a 6V flywheel. Anyone happen to know, or should I just pull my starter to find out?
Would either one of these work well for my application, one better then the other?
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/bosch-3073/ch...&pos=2

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/ultima-4536/c...&pos=1

[runamoc]

The tooth count is different for the two flywheels and starters. The flywheels are different on other 'things'. Like how they 'mate' with the engine crankshaft.
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[liquidrush]

If you have the 6v flywheel. It'll be fine as long as you don't have to crank it for 15 seconds every time to start it.

[Dale M.]

Flywheel wheel ring gear for 6 Volt is 109 teeth.

Flywheel wheel ring gear for 12 Volt is 130 teeth.

There are a couple odd variations of flywheel diameters and tooth counts but they are not to common.

The gear on starter has to match tooth count on flywheel.

There are a few 12 volt starters out there with 6 volt gears.

Simple solution as mentioned above is use 6 volt starter and just keep engine in good tune so it starts easy and do not overheat 6 volt starter with excessive cranking.. Many people have done this and run them for years... Also if it smokes there are many old but good 6 volt starters around.

Dale
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[KingCarGuyZ]

Car starts first time with a bump, but she is a restore so there was a lot of cranking a few months ago, I’m guessing that killed the starter, does anyone know the tooth count on the starter it’s self for a 6V flywheel compatible starter?
Thanks for all the info though, if it comes down to it I’ll buy the 6V from j-bugs but I was hopeing to get the one my local oriely would work first.I wanted to confirm the tooth count on the starter was right.

[Pruneman99]

You can't use a 12v self supporting starter on a 6v flywheel. The gear pitch is different and it will chew up the flywheel.

Just get a 6v non-suppored starter and run it on 12v. Don't crank on it.

Or order a 12v starter with 6v gears. Search the classified on here. I think there is someone who makes them, but they are not cheap.

[M. Notary]

[KingCarGuyZ]

Anyone know what a 6V starter gear looks like, how many teeth, difference from 12V starter gear. I think I found a 12V system with a 6V gear but I’m not sure.

[petrol punk]

[jeffrey8164]

True Dat!
A 6 Volt starter will work just fine on 12 Volts.
It just spins faster.
If you’re worried about the solenoid you can put a 5 buck resistor in line to drop the voltage of that wire.
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[Pruneman99]

[rugblaster]

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[jeffrey8164]

[KingCarGuyZ]

Bummer, I was hope to upgrade a little to one like the auto transmissions came with, but pulling the flywheel while it needs to happen will probably wait for when the clutch dies. I guess I’ll go with the auto zone 6V option, thanks for all the help.

[glutamodo]

[KingCarGuyZ]

Thank you, that was the info I was looking for, for those that may come and read this latter I wound up going with a 6V duralast (autozone) starter and spinning it with 12, sounds like a little demon when she starts, but starts faster then ever and whenever I turn the key.

[glutamodo]

I hate to say it but I don't "surf" the threads on TheSamba like I issued to, otherwise I'd have answered your question earlier. Often times I don't need to look very deep because I've often already discussed a ton of things and people quote me, and/or my images (and I that's totally OK)

Anyhow, I always thought the sound of a 6V starter running on 12V, (FIRMLY ENGAGED, I should add), "sounds" like a lot of modern car starters. As such I don't get worried by it.
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[MrGoodtunes]

I have been using a 6-volt starter and a 6-volt flywheel in my buggy with 12-volt electrical system since 1976. No problem for many years; but... by 1990, there would be times when I turn the key and the starter would just spin. Easy to solve this; just put her in gear, push forward and/or back (to move flywheel where some teeth are left to engage with starter pinion gear). Eventually tho, there came the day when the starter pinion seized into the flywheel, jam'd so tight, it required some really hard rocking (rear tires sliding) to break it loose, just to get where a push start became possible. Here's how the flywheel look'd:

Of course I knew that that day would come, 'cuz the spining starter thing was happening more and more frequently. So I had found and stash'd a good used 6-volt flywheel, and purchased a 12-volt solenoid. Those went in when the above flywheel came out, 2004. So it's now been 15 years of trouble free, clean sounding starts every time I turn the key.

Bottom line: 6-volt starter and flywheel work fine in 12-volt system; but if you want it to last, use a 12-volt solenoid.

[andk5591]

Have had decent luck on a couple cars with 6V starter on 12V system. BUT I have replaced a couple flywheels this year that were chewed up by 6V starters....Andy showed you the gear diameter, but the shaft itself is a different diameter. There are conversion bushings or 6V in 12V tranny and vice versa. Too lasy to go measure them for you BUT looked on CIP1 and they show the bushing for 6V being 12.4 mm ID, so your 6V shaft is around 12mm.
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[glutamodo]