Starter removal question

I know this is old hat to most of you, but I don't want to do this wrong and end up with regrets.

The starter on my 1948 Case VAI is stuck. I suppose I fouled it up when I pressure washed the tractor (it is new to me but had 66 years of grime on it) and probably got water in it. I did start the tractor after the wash and let it warm up good thinking that would dry everything out (and it started normally), but two days later the starter will not budge. I have isolated the starter electrically and put voltage directly to the frame and post on the top of the starter just to see if it would crank but there is nothing - not even a noise.

I have bought and read the Dealer's Service Manual, the IT shop service Shop Manual, the Operator's Manual, and the VAI Parts Catalog so it's not like I haven't tried to look this up myself. However none of these detail the procedure to actually get the starter off the tractor.

I am hesitating because when I was 14 (can that be 49 years ago?) I worked at a livestock auction and the foreman told me to take the starter off the little Ford we used to clean pens. He didn't give me any warnings so I wrenched the thing loose and it got cock-eyed and I heard a ziiiiiinnnnggg. That's when I was told about the Bendix, and the badness of having it unwind like that. Fortunately I didn't get fired and they found a real mechanic who used a wire brush on a drill or grinder to wind the thing back up without having to split the tractor.

So, here I am 49 years later facing removing another starter and I want to do it right this time!

Any advice will be much appreciated!

I had one once and it just unbolted like a normal starter, nothing to
worry about. Does the engine turn over with a crank or a wrench
on the PTO? If not the starter gear may be stuck against the
flywheel and preventing both the starter and the engine from
turning. Usually all that is needed is to loosen the starter and it will
pop back.
Zach

Thank you for the quick reply! I don't have a crank for the tractor and I have never engaged the PTO, although I do know where the lever is and could try that.

I wouldn't guess the starter was engaged to the flywheel when the tractor shut off but then I am certainly no expert. After I Washed it the tractor started normally and I drove it around for several minutes, then I shut the fuel off to let it die, and it sat for days days after that before I discovered it would no longer crank.

When you say it unbolts like a normal starter, that's what I am worried about. Is there a Bendix inside the tractor that is going to unwind and give me grief if I do this wrong?

Yes, I can turn the engine over with a pipe wrench on the PTO.

Just by chance you did shut the switch off after it ran out of fuel? I think I would put a battery charger on for a little while and see if it will even try to turn over. It wouldn't be the first time someone left the switch on and ran the battery dead. I have worn that TSHIRT more then once.

Bob

I just did this a month ago on a VAH....The hang
up is the flat head bolts that the recoil spring is
held onto the shaft with . With your fingers or
needle nose pliars , rotate the shaft a 1/4 turn
and try it, No Joy ? another 1/4 turn ...until it
clears the flywheel . It is not the Bendix type
drive like on a Ford , but an Inertia drive where
the starter throws the pinion gear on a spiral
track into the flywheel . Very common drive....

nothing will unwind when you take off the starter bolts.

Many thanks to all who responded and the question has been well-answered, I think. All the information is appreciated very much and I hope to be able to contribute something as valuable some day.

Yes - I also have the t-shirt for leaving the switch on! But this time was not so simple. I charged the battery well and then even tried to bump the starter with the charger so as to eliminate all the old (I will replace it soon!) wiring and old corroded starter switch. No joy!

Thank you for explaining that this will not unwind like that old Ford did! That was awful.

Also thanks for the tips on turning the shaft a quarter turn until free. I am not afraid to do that as long as there is no Bendix to unwind and give me grief!