1968 520

[R4wb33]

I’m missing the washer and clip. 

[datzenmike]

Mayhaps someone had it apart and forgot the washer. The starter, when engaged, slides the pinion gear out quite forcefully and perhaps snapped that clip.

 

Is there wear where the pinion might hit the starter case when all the way out turning the engine? Says pinion stopper... maybe to prevent it from hitting the case?

[R4wb33]

Doesn’t look likes there’s any wear. 

 

 

[datzenmike]

Have a look at the teeth on the flywheel.

[R4wb33]

I found a piece of the washer and clip in the housing when I disassembled the starter to clean and examine it.  

 

[datzenmike]

Got to figure it's there for some reason.

[R4wb33]

Made my own clip bench tested the starter again with the clip and installed it on the truck and it turns over now. 

 

 

 

 

 

[R4wb33]

Compression tested the motor and it’s 150 on cylinders 1,2,3 and 45 on cylinder 4.  

[difrangia]

That washer on the armature shaft should have a counterbore and ID groove to snap over the spring clip in the shaft groove. What you have there may work but won't let the starter drive gear advance enough for a full mesh with the ring gear on the flywheel. The brushes, solenoid, and drive unit are all available for that starter. I went through a couple of them bout four years ago.

[difrangia]

Dug up a pic of the drive end of the starter. I believe that this is how it should be assembled. The counterbore-ID groove side of the washer goes away from the gear and snaps over the spring-clip.

 

Kinda baffles me why the spring-ring groove is so far from the starter nose on starter in your pic. It would seem to me that the pinion gear wouldn't be able to extend enough to mesh properly with the ring gear. Also attached an exploded drawing from the parts manual. If you don't have a parts manual, here's a link to an online manual.    

 

https://www.carpartsmanual.com/datsun/pickup-1965-1972

 

 

 

 

 

[R4wb33]

I that picture I just hadn’t slid the armature all the way into the housing yet.