Wizzzz. Starter or Ring gear/flywheel?

[offalot]

So yeah when I turn the key, the starter just turns freely, most of the time, turn it a couple times and it will engage or sometimes engage on the first turn, but it is gradually getting worse and let me tell you how frusterating it is to let the glow plugs warm their full cycle just to have it negated by the starter not kicking in. So is it the teeth on the starter or a dead spot on the ring gear. If it was the latter I would figure it would never engage.
If it is indeed the starter, can it be easily repaired without replacing the whole thing?

[babyjames]

My '79 is doing the same thing, since it got "cold". I'm betting on the starter.

Jay.

[bustedbenz]

Our 240D is doing exactly the same thing. First three or four attempts at a first cold start of the day, the starter freewheels but never engages the ring gear.

At least it's better than the SDL, which sends the starter nose crashing into the ring gear with a grinding sound every now and then when it's cold. It is spinning too fast by the time it gets to the ring gear to engage properly.

[offalot]

Wow so its a cold start thing. could it be the grease on the spring shaft that pushes out the gear has got old and semi-solidifies in the cold, not allowing for the gear to be thrown out? If so maybe some light oil sprayed up in there might cure it. Or maybe I am talking out of my a$$.

[UriahT]

offalot, that's probably exactly whats happening.
I've had to replace two starters for the exact same reason.
The bendix grease gets old, and doesn't push the starter in far enough to engage the flywheel. When it gets worse, it can actually damage the flywheel as the starter also doesn't disengage fast enough. Damaged teeth on a flywheel is not something any of us want to be dealing with.

[stimpy451]

Bendix. They are non-rebuildable for the most part. Get a reman Bosch and have them bench test it before you slap down the cash.

I say bench test because I had a bad starter from VatoZone a while ago for a different car. I never bothered to test it before I put it in. Yikes.

Eventually you'll be stuck somewhere because the starter just goes WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE and never catches anymore.

[offalot]

OK , well at least I would rather hear that then have to take the tranny out and replace the ring gear, and Im sure a Junkyard starter of the same vintage would have the same problems. Just out of curiosity and to possibly save my gear, after work today I'm gonna warm the starter head up a little with a blow torch and see what it does.

[NoCalMer]

I had the same problem. I pulled the starter and ended up finding all the teeth on both flywheel and starter good. I was worried I lost some teeth on the flywheel. After changing the starter, the problem is gone. I would pull the starter and have it tested. I tried changing my solenoid and the new one didn't work so that might be an option if you find the right one.

[47dodge]

I have not pulled a Mercedes starter, but most starters you can oil the shaft once it is out and on the bench. There is a specail lube available. Cushmans needed to be pulled out about once a year and lubed.

[babyjames]

Man, if I'm going to pull the starter out, I'm going to replacement with something I know is good. Never had problems with a Bosch reman.

I've gotten pretty good at changing these things over the years, but it's still not something I look forward to. Adjusting the valve clearance, and even changing the oil, is a labor-of-love. R+R the starter on a five-cylinder in a W123 just plain sucks.

Jay.