Can't get 8N starter back in

Bruce

Bruce,
Makin' it look like this will help.
Russ

Did it look like this? Closed..as opposed to spun out and engaged.

Or like this?

Was this a new starter? Did you rebuild the old one?

This is the same starter I took out. Just had it tested. Thanks.

You can sometimes spin it in the direction of rotation @ clockwise at the gear assembly looking at the washer on the end of the drive with a heavy brush on a bench grinder or with something like a side grinder with a small belt around the starter drive with it held in a vice with the nuts on the two long bolts to hold it securely together while spinning it with the side grinder. Tricky but it will work if you hold your mouth just right! :O)

On some of the starter drives it is impossible to reinstall the starter unless the starter drive is disengaged.

Zane

Otherwize, just jiggle and rotate yer starter motor/armature enuff so the starter bendix gear meshes with the flywheel ringgear.

tip: while you have that 1/4" space between starter motor endplate and flywheel housing, use a wire-brush to "polish" the 2-metals clean for better grounding and faster starter motor turning for eazier starting..... .....Dell

Hmmm, don't know what you mean by closed. But yes I had the bolts on, tho they weren't very tight.