I have a 57 model with pony start and a factory drilled hole in the bell housing. My project this winter is to get all my parts together for a direct electric start conversion in the spring. I bought a rebuilt starter drive, OS# 03-293; a drive end housing #1988748 [replaces CPC#51-1112]; and a 42mt, 24v starter which crosses to a delco 10478998.
I removed the drive and drive end housing that came with the starter and installed the parts I mentioned above. The problem is I cannot get the solenoid in the right position to clear the pony pinion lever case. One position gives me a clear shot at the mounting bolt but the solenoid hits the pinion case while the next position the solenoid clears the pinion case but the mounting bolt is obstructed by the solenoid.
My drive end housing has 6 holes to mount it to the starter, I've seen them with 12 holes...Is this what I'm missing to get the right location where the solenoid clears the pinion case and I can still access the mounting bolt? Am I missing something? What do the experts think?

Johnstone

Does that Cat have an oil clutch?

Hi Josh,

Yes, it has the oil clutch.

Johnstone

Requires slight notching of the solenoid mount housing to get the indexing you need and to clear a box end wrench on a 12pt cap screw.....as shown in the directions:
sites.google.com/site/oldmagcat/

Hi Old Magnet,

The problem I'm having is that as I index the starter one position gives me good access to the mounting bolt but no clearance to the solenoid...the next position gives me clearance at the solenoid but the mounting bolt is behind the solenoid that no amount of notching will fix. Do the drive end housings #1988748 come with 3 sets of 2 holes and 3 sets of 4 holes to mount to the starter? It seems like my housing with 3 sets of 2 holes is not going to work.

Johnstone

The problem appears to be in the lever housing, the one that mounts the solenoid. They come with different drilling indexing. You need a starter with either a 10476030 preferred or 1988436 lever housing, then do the notching.

A #10478998 starter should come with the #10476030 lever housing.
Is this a new or rebuilt starter that might have been assembled with other parts?

Here are the pics of the correct lever housings:
Be aware that not all the main cases are drilled for some of the alternate lever housings.

Hey Old Magnet,

This is a new starter...here's a picture...

Correction: That's not the correct 10476030 or 1988436 lever housing.
(Had to go look at my stock)

Here is what it should look like. The 1988436 housing is the same except the top threaded hole is not provided.

Hi Old Magnet,

So what are you saying....does my lever housing look like the wrong type?

That's what I'm saying and it's possible the right one won't mount correctly to your starter main case unless it has the dual bolting pattern otherwise it won't align with the buss bar mounting for the field coils.

Again the build list for that starter number should have the correct lever housing for your application. Probably one of those Chinese knock-offs where they don't pay attention.