Kaiser 1953 Deluxe auto flywheel teech damaged - what to do?

[kingsgate]

I have a 1953 Kaiser Deluxe with the Hydramatic transmission.

I had the car in at place that fits stereos just before Christmas, and it would not start - the starter motor spins but doesn't engage properly.

I am informed that quite a few of the teeth on the flywheel ring gear are stripped off, so essentially every time I try to start it, I am playing a kind of "Russian roulette" in the sense that if when the engine stopped, an area of damaged teeth are in line with the starter, it won't start!

And being an automatic transmission, I don't have the option of push starting it or anything.

What can I do? Can I buy a new part to fix this easily? And where from?

Any advice gratefully received!

I am in London, England so will probably have to get any parts shipped from the US of A.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

We have some active members in Sweden and Switzerland.  If it's a good one, a flywheel from a parts car with Automatic can work as a replacement.  I've checked the Hydra-Matic Parts Books and Supplements K-F issued.  The flywheel itself has the same part number, 1951-1953.  As long as it is off an engine mated with an automatic transmission.  Manual and overdrive types are different from the automatics.

[kingsgate]

Thanks for the reply.

Are the flywheels or even just the ring gear available to buy from anywhere, do you know?

Or is my only hope to get one from another car that's being broken for parts?

[joefrazer]

While its not uncommon for the teeth to strip from a flywheel, it isn't something one sees happen every day. So, there should be plenty of available used parts. Hopefully one of our forum members has a spare they would be willing to sell.

[ldladyvt]

The question you asked about a 'ring gear' replacement for the hydramatic flywheel is not available.  Unlike the standard transmission flywheel the hydramatic flywheel is cast as one part.  The only fix is another hydramatic flywheel.

[ldladyvt]

I just checked a parts list from 2012 and Rudy Phillips in California at that time still listed the hydramatic flywheel for $150 plus shipping.  I would assume that the part is a new old stock part and the part number you are looking for is KF #209001.  I do not presently have Rudys contact information but I am sure someone else on the chat room can supply it.  If you have a membership book he will be listed in it.

[Hollenway]

If you happen to have a welding shop close or a handy home hobbyist with a MIG welder you can remove
the flywheel cover and build the missing teeth up with the MIG and then take a small die grinder and reshape
the teeth.   I've fixed many of these flywheels on both the Kaiser cars and old tractors.   It's a much less
expensive route than pulling the engine or the transmission.   Just my two cents worth from 50 years of
twisting wrenches.........

 

[rialto]

You can push start the old Kaiser Hydramatic. Push it don't tow it to 20 mph, turn the ignition on then put it in Drive. It should  turn over.

[kenneth]

Hi good advice by Hollenway about welding .Engines tend to stop rotating on the same places when  you switch off so in the old days they used to take off the flywheel starter ring gear and rotate it 1/4 lap on the flywheel and put it back, this is not possible on the hydramatic, on my old tractor I bump the engine over 1/4 lap then it works fine with worn out gear.

[joefrazer]

Perhaps this fellow can help.

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/pts/5390623778.html

[r1lark]

If your flywheel teeth are in that bad a shape, the pinion gear on the starter bendix will also be suspect as to condition. Probably need to plan on replacing the bendix also.

[kingsgate]

I will ask the place that have the car at the moment what they think about the state of the ring gear teeth.

[kingsgate]

I got the flywheel today (thanks Rudy Phillips!).

I now need as gasket and O-ring to enable them to put it all back together.

Any ideas?

[Gordie]

Rudy could have sent it with the flywheel.