Starter Grind...Gasser Part?

[Z71silverado95]

95 TD w/ 250k daily driver. Recently recovered from 2 sheared starter bolts appears the culprit was an un-installed starter bracket. After 2 broken easy outs and a few late nights the truck started perfect for the past 3 weeks, until today. Attempting to leave from work i was hit with starter grind and spin but on second attempt the truck fired up just fine. Made it home checked everything out, all nice and snug and nothing seems out of place, however, every 3rd or 4th start the truck will grind and spin.

The starter is about 3/8" away from the housing of the transmission all the way around, there is a definite gap. It appears as if the gears are engaging only half way and have stripped slightly. this leads me to believe that I may have a gasser part as it is a NAPA item and not OEM. it appears as if the previous owner attempted to mitigate the gap with RTV.

Should I swap the starter? any other suggestions?

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c23/z71silverado98/Comments/IMG838.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/z71silverado98/media/Comments/IMG838.jpg.html)

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http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c23/z71silverado98/Comments/IMG840.jpg (http://s24.photobucket.com/user/z71silverado98/media/Comments/IMG840.jpg.html)

[More Power]

Welcome to the board! Sorry hear of your problem starter.

I didn't think the 6.5 starter was shared by those used on a gas engine.

Alll of the auto parts stores are plagued by chinese knock-off import parts. Starters and alternators were among the first parts knocked-off for the 6.5L diesel.

Odds are that the starter you have was made in china.

Back in the early 1990s I needed a new starter for a 6.2L diesel I owned at the time. So, I bought a "guaranteed for life" starter from a local auto parts store. I went through 3 starters in less than 3 months before deciding the money I saved and the guarantee was costing me way too much. The roll-back haul-home was the final straw.

So, I bought a brand new GM starter - without a warranty and for quite a bit more. That starter was still on the truck a decade later.

Moral of the story: don't scrimp, do it once - do it right. Use a quality starter and always use new genuine GM starter bolts (yes, they are special bolts) torqued to specs. Then, make damn sure the bracket is doing its job.

[Z71silverado95]

I have new HELP! starter bolts made for the 5.7/6.5/6.5, bracket is in place. Are you saying I need starter bolts from the Dealership?
The starter is a Napa Brand, I'm going to pull it right now and inspect it. I had it out while trying to remove the broken bolts and failed to inspect it, shame on me.

[Z71silverado95]

Appears as if the starter is engaging the torque plate at the proper depth and its getting full throw into the gear. Looks like the teeth are chewed up on torque plate, tomorrow i'm going to bump the fan around and look for missing teeth. that may explain why it starts perfect 3 times then misses on the 4th and starts again on the 5th.