Cranky Bendix Starter Drive

cavan289 · May 24, 2015

My 1948 8N had what appeared to be the original bendix drive. Last year it started to fail (would spin but not engage). Got a new one from this site and with some great help got it installed. Worked fine all last winter, but now I am back to same problem - with fully charged battery the starter motor spins but will not advance the drive to the engage position. If I pull it out, clean, and move it by hand into the engage position and reinstall it starts a few times nicely but then reverts to spin but no engage. I cleaned the shaft and wire brushed. No apparent corrosion or oil on the shaft or parts. Suggestions? Time for whole new starter? Thanks, Mike

RM-MN · May 24, 2015

New starter is rarely in my vocabulary but I have a good rebuild shop nearby that can take a poorly working starter and make it like new for way less than a new starter. Check for one in your area.

tractorguy2 · May 24, 2015

I wouldn't think the starter would cause that problem unless the shaft has a groove wore in it. The problem would be the starter
drive.

Dell (WA) · May 25, 2015

Cavan........yer LONG starter shaft must be SQUEEKY clean fer yer Bendix drive to "accelerate" hard enuff to engage the flywheel ring gear. Modern "clutch" style Bendix drive is semi-immune to oily drive problems. Recommend cleaning yer starter drive with spray Brake cleaner. Sometimes yer flywheel ring gear gitts worn and even new starter drive won't engage, juss grab yer fan blade and pull yer engine over a few degrees to gitt fresh teeth. Simple, eh? ......HTH, starter Dell

NoNewParts · May 25, 2015

as said, probably the drive.
But working with a lot of junk here, I do run into
starters that will just...whirrrr.
Sometimes as a starter gets tired and dirty internally,
it draws more to get moving initially.
(That first hit of voltage should make the starter react violently.
If you have ever tested a good starter and good battery on the
floor with your foot on it, ya know what I mean)
In this case, a strong battery and more importantly,
perfect clean connections everywhere are needed.
A voltage drop test will tell you.
If needed, rebuild yours or have it rebuilt. I've been hearing
bad things about the 'new' inexpensive starters today.

The suggestion to turn the engine slightly first to get a fresh spot on the flywheel is good practice.
But, if it was bad teeth, it would be telling you very loudly about them.......

Cranky Bendix Starter Drive

cavan289

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RM-MN

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tractorguy2

Well-known Member

Dell (WA)

Well-known Member

NoNewParts

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