Starter Shimming Diagram - Pinion to Flywheel Clearance Check with Wire Gage

This document is a service illustration showing how to check starter pinion-to-flywheel clearance using a wire gage, a procedure commonly known as starter shimming. The upper portion of the diagram depicts the wire gage tool (labeled C), a bent wire approximately 76.2 mm (3 inches) long with a hooked end measuring 6.355–12.7 mm (1/4"–1/2"). The lower portion shows the flywheel ring gear (A) meshing with the starter pinion (B), with a callout (D) indicating where to insert the 0.5 mm (0.020 inch) diameter tip of the wire gage — into the gap between the tip of a pinion tooth and the root of the flywheel ring gear teeth. The legend identifies all four callouts: A. Flywheel, B. Pinion, C. Wire Gage, and D. Insert 0.5mm (0.020 inch) diameter tip of wire gage here. From this diagram a reader learns the target clearance specification (0.020 inch / 0.5 mm), the dimensions for fabricating the wire gage tool, and the correct measurement location for verifying whether starter shims are needed. The document contains no year, make, or model information itself.