I have a rookie question about starter/flywheel noise:

Once in a great while when I turn the engine over I get that horrible grind noise of the starter motor teeth grinding with the flywheel's teeth (or the other way around). I was told that the flywheel must have a missing tooth or two and once in awhile they line up with the starter gear and make that wonderful noise when the key is turned... Does this sound right?

Thanks,
Dennis 

make sure the starter is lined up and tight

mine did that too.....(got a lemon) any way my starter was loose.

The teeth on the flywheel ring are probably worn on the starter side of them.
You can take (press) the ring off the flywheel, flip the ring over and press it back on.....so you get the "other" side of the teeth meshing with the flywheel (that will probably solve the grinding problem).
Or it could be that the starter gear is hanging up in the starter a little and not fully engaging the flywheel teeth....may need to clean up and lightly lube up the starter.

dennis
there is a chance the bendix gear(dateing myself?) on the starter is not throwing out all the way before the starter motor is spinning too fast and then it can't engage.
i have experienced this many time over the years (strange- when i think of how many that is...) and starter replacement has always worked.
i've never had to replace that ring gear.
also, i think the material the starter gear is made of is softer. mabe not.
do you have to bump the switch a few times before it will latch in? and then it's good to go for a while?
richard

the bendix is what f-ed up on mine.

Gee whizz guys.... Thanks for all the quick replies. I will be taking the starter out very soon as I will be rebuilding the tranny as soon as all the parts arrive. This starter thing is all good news as I was having a hard time locating a new/rebuilt flywheel. I never had to bump the switch.. it always started right up on the next try. The grind  would happen maybe one in twenty or so times. It's a two year old Napa "premium" starter and is supposedly guaranteed for life.... we will see.
The noise sounds exactly like when you try to start a car that is already running... My Samurai has a glass pack so it's loud and I've never made that mistake..... But with my Trooper that's another story 

Again thanks for the help,
Dennis

check your wire connections. thats what happened to mine.. nlot a good connection