starter not engaging

[tonupt]

Hi all,The starter on my 1983 A reg 2lt pinto camper was whirring before engaging and getting worse.I assumed it to be bendix or other starter fault.Without testing I got an exchange recon and fitted it,plenty of whirr but now it wont engage at all.I have since learned a bit about these things and have checked new starter on battery...works perfect.I have looked at ring gear... also perfect.I have tested starter in situ using jumplead-battrey to starter plenty of whirr no start.I can hear the bendix leaping but it aint meeting the ringgeear.I have pushed the van in gear to move the flywheel...no go.I got the recon from reputable and knowledgeable shop,I fitted it correctly nice and tight to motor and about 5 times so far.There is plenty of juice in my 2 batteries and all leads are good..mechanical mates are stumped as am I.I have noticed a gap at the top when the starter is bolted to the van, can slip a key into the bellhouse,dont know if this is standard,there is certainly no adjustment on where the starter fits...what am I missing???why do those we love turn against us?

[imustloverust]

I had a similar problem once when I replaced my starter. Turns out the first one had 10 teeth on the pinion gear and the replacement had 9 teeth. The engine in my van came from a sierra so had a smaller fly wheel and a different starter to the transits. So maybe you have a sierra one?

[Neil]

yes theres a lot of models use the 2.0 like he says the teeth on the starter may be differant also ive had recon starters that are faulty, take it back and explain to them and ask about the teeth are they the same as your old one transit petrol engines are a differant compression ratio than car ones

[tonupt]

Thanks Neil and Rustlover for imput,great new development.measured van,measured new starter....wrong starter!boltholes were only good bit.return to shop ,now getting old starter recon as bendix was the problem,(I got something right).Will post pics of my transits when I find them(moved recently,life inabox...or20)