V8 guys - what starter are you using?, Stock starter just groans Options

[Cheapsnake]

I tried to do a bench start on my Rover V8 yesterday. I'm using the stock 914 starter with the Kennedy adapter plate and flywheel. The starter engaged well, but just barely turned the engine over. My battery was freshly charged.

I'm going to take the starter in tomorrow to have it bench tested, but in the meantime, I'm wondering if the stock starter is just not up to the job of turning a V8. I know most of the V8's going into these things are SBC's, but what are you using for a starter?

Tom

[Bruce Hinds]

I don't think the gear reduction starter was available when I did my conversion and at the time I didn't want to pop for the reverse rotation chevy unit sold for the Rengade conversion and I think it was done by Kennedy.
The stock 914 starter worked slow but well for many years as I was only pushing about 9:1 compression, but the problem surfaced it's ugly head one day when I had to get somewhere. As I understand what happened is that the bearing at the output shaft is not up to the task and when it wears out the teeth start skipping and that will wear the teeth on the flywheel or chip them off.
I could put the car in high gear and push it just enough to move the flywheel and try it again and usually get it started, but every time it got to the broken tooth it would just spin.
Kennedy was able to put a new ring gear on my flywheel. Wish I'd done it right the first time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)
B