With the "flat spot" on the starter the long timing chain on the M110 may have jerked around enough to have skipped a cog or two on the exhaust or intake camshaft.

After all else you've already checked I'd suggest you take off the valve cover and rotate the engine carefully clockwise as you face it with a socket wrench on the crankshaft nut and make sure the camshaft index marks line up precisely at TDC.

If they're out there's just enough room to readjust the chain on the sprockets if the cam fingers and chain adjuster are removed.

I've had good luck in removing the starter, rotating the crank fifteen degrees or so and replacing the starter to ensure that the ring gear has fresh teeth to mesh on the compression stroke.

Good luck and let us know how you fare, if you would



Tim Kraakevik
kraakevik@voyager.net
Four M110's