961 starter question

Freewheelin · Jun 4, 2013

I"m working on my friends 961 Ford starter. Not familiar with Ford starters so would appreciate some help. The drive only moves back about 1/4 inches from full engagement. I disassembled the unit and found that there two small spring loaded plungers, one of which is designed to catch in a notch that prevents the drive from fully retracting. I can't understand how the plunger can be pulled back into the recess except perhaps by centrifugal force. So after I reassembled it, I wrapped a shoe string around the gear and pulled it hard as I could but the unit still wouldn't fully retract. Both the plungers and the springs looked to be OK. I"m thinking that maybe the plunger and the hole it travels in need to be polished. Am I on the right track?

souNdguy · Jun 5, 2013

the drive normally lives at the end of the shaft , the end far away from the starter. it sucks in toward the starter to engage,. when the engine starts and overspeeds the starter, the drive is unlocked to fling back out to the end of the shaft.

if yours is engaged.. you can overspeed it on a wire wheel on a bench grinder usually.

note.. the shaft must be squaky clean.. no rust.. no wet lubes like oil or grease to provide drag friction. dry lubes like silicone spray may be acceptable. also.. is the bushings are worn, or the shaft is bent.. it will cause side loads and other issues.

Freewheelin · Jun 5, 2013

I disassembled the drive unit, polished the plungers, and cleaned the holes. Used a piece of shim stock to keep the plunger recessed during assembly. Not the best design in the world. I noticed that one of the springs was slightly smaller than the other. Is that normal? I put it in the plunger that locks the drive. How do you bench test these things?

souNdguy · Jun 6, 2013

spin the starter up see if it engages. then put it on the wire wheel to spin it back out.

961 starter question

Freewheelin

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souNdguy

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Freewheelin

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souNdguy

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