bendix drive

[jmwuva05]

I have a starter related question. When I turn the key the starter motor roles over fine but doesnt seem to engage the flywheel. I am certain I lined the bendix drive up with the flywheel gears prior to reinstalation. The engine turns easily at the crank puley. Any ideas or do I need to just pull the starter.

 

[Biff]

Sounds as if the bendix unit is either rusted to the starter shaft or gummed up with oil and dirt/sludge/etal. Pull the starter and clean it up. Do not oil it down. Just a light film of oil after it has been de-rusted/de sludged.

 

[jlaird]

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[jmwuva05]

Definately not rusted and it worked great prior to restoration. Maybe it just isnt engaged. I found an old thread on here where someone put it in fourth gear and rolled the car forward and then cranked it up. I think I will try that when I get home today.

 

[sparkydave]

The fourth gear trick is for the opposite problem; that's when the starter is stuck engaged to the flywheel. More likely something has the bendix gear stuck on the starter shaft, keeping it from engaging. In that case, rolling the car in fourth gear won't do anything.

 

[jlaird]

You can pull the starter in about 5 min after you practice awile. hehe. It is a stuck bendex for sure.

 

[jmwuva05]

Gave the bendix cover a good whack and hooked the battery up to booster cables and it turns right over. I almost forgot the car was + ground I am sure my truck would have appreciated that . Now to get some gas in it and start tuning.

 

[Sarastro]

I agree with Jack.

The Bendix is a screw-thread mechanism, and it MUST operate very smoothly to work. When you get it out, you should be able to operate the screw very easily--it should be so smooth that you can turn it easily with your fingers without turning the motor's armature.

 

[bugimike]

A light film of "sewing machine oil" on the shaft does wonders!!

 

[jmwuva05]

Mechanism turns freely and doesnt slide. After I put a new battery in bendix engages every time. Now if I can only get the timing and carbs set.

 

[bugimike]

Doesn't slide?? It should slide easily!! No matter if it's working!! Should have mentioned that a weak battery will also cause the same symptom! Good luck with the carbs and timing!

 

[jlaird]

So much for assumptions, assumed your battery was good.

 

[Sarastro]

Well, a reasonable assumption if the starter "rolls over fine." The inertia in the bendix when the starter starts spinning is what pulls it in, which is why (1) the threads of that coarse screw arrangement must be smooth, and (2) the motor itself has to start spinning quickly. I suppose the latter might not happen if the battery is low, but I've never seen this before. Welcome to the marvelous land of LBCs!