MTFCA Forum

Hi all, it seems every time I get back from a drive my starter mounting screws are loose and the starter hangs with about a 1/16” gap along the top edge of the gasket. I can tighten it back down but it happens again and again. I’m not terribly worried about the starter, most starts are on the crank anyways, but I don’t like the thought of it probably losing some amount of oil every time.

What do you folks recommend to keep this from happening?

Lock washers? Is it possible you or someone else mistakenly used a smaller metric screw instead of 1/4”. ?

Starter mounting screws/bolts are 5/16" - if you're using the original screws, you might consider replacing them with a good grade 5 bolt w/new lock washers - at least you can get a decent wrench on the bolts.

I stand corrected. They are indeed 5/16”...

Would the effect of using 12 Volts add to this problem?

I have the stock slotted screws and lock washers and have never had a problem

If lock washers don't do the trick, clean the threads out and use some blue locktite. But first check your bolts for correct size and thread pattern. I have picked up several at my local hardware store that have varied from batch to batch they have received. Take an original (if you have one) and match it up to the hardware store ones. Only way to know for sure.

Hopefully the threads in the hogs head are not stripped. If they are good and you are using the correct size bolts, use lockwashers and tighten them more. On my first T the first tour I went on, same thing happened to my starter! I didn't know why it would not work and used the crank. Anyway the tour was a "progressive lunch" so I drove on to the next stop and left a puddle of oil on their driveway!

Your problem is serious and you need to address it before you do much more driving. You could lose a lot of oil quickly which could lead to much worse problems.
Norm

I used allen bolts. Easy to tighten.

Thanks all, I’ll be checking the threads in the hogshead (fingers crossed) and if they’re fine I’ll start with fresh lock nuts. Failing that I suppose I’ll try some loctite on the screws, or buy and drill some hex head screws so I can wire them.

As was said above, unless the thread in the cover are bad, all you should need it lock washers under the slotted head screws.