Hi!
Currently i am getting a noise coming from the flywheel cover in the
area where the starter and flywheel mesh (listened through a
screwdriver pressed against the cover), the noise is quite loud,
inermittent at bewteen 2000 and 2500rpm and then increases at higher
rpms and eventually becomes a constant whine. Below 2000rpm everything
is quiet. I took the starter motor out today for inspection and was
wondering if it could be the inertia gear not returning fully away
from the flywheel. How stiff should the return spring be on the gear
i.e. if i compress it fully to engagement position and then release it
should the gear twist through the helical cut all the way to the top
or remain pretty much static?
I have no problem with starting the engine and the starter is free
from dirt.
The noise is independant of clutch motion or gear selected, only
proportional to engine speed althou it seems to lag a bit: it speeds
up with a delay compared to engine speed but rapidly catches up .
noise is similar to a slipping belt.
Adjusting the arm clearance (0.50 mm as per haynes) seems to have made
it a bit louder
The clutch is a pre-verto and the clutch is new as the engine has been
recently rebuilt

Any ideas?

Cheers!!!