Stuck starter..I give up

[Dan Partain]

I can't see any thing out of place on the spring you show. What was its flaw?

The bad spring was bent, the holes in the spring for the bolts should line up. The old spring was sprung, but not broken.

Here are my spares, compare with the one I removed.

 

[J Franklin]

I didn't catch that! Since it looks to be sprung tighter, I would have thought it was a spring for a different application/car.

 

[katy]

Dan Partain, thanks for the info, will file it in the old gray matter for future reference.

 

[larrys40]

Usually placing in 3rd gear and rocking back and forth from the bumper does the trick. You will hear it release if you listen closely. Unbolting it loosening the starter may actually compound the process.
The new repro large starter drives are terrible!

 

[larrys40]

The bad spring was bent, the holes in the spring for the bolts should line up. The old spring was sprung, but not broken.

Here are my spares, compare with the one I removed.

From the photo Some of the springs look left hand and some right hand . Make sure you install the correct spring.
Larry

 

[Dan Partain]

Larry, nice catch. Yes, that one was a suprise, I have no idea what that backwards spring would go on, maybe it's for Australian A's.

 

[Ray in La Mesa]

Model T's use the spring wound the opposite direction than the Model A.

 

[Dan Partain]

Thanks Ray!

 

[woofa.express]

I upgraded my starter to a 5/8 shaft and a modern Bendix drive. It is noisy but thankfully Woofa starts every time almost instantaneously. Less than one second anyway. It became jammed but only once. I don’t like it and I am about to replace it with the original type.

 

[J Franklin]

Starting quickly has nothing to do with the starter drive, you just keep W. E. in good running tune.

 

[woofa.express]

Starting quickly has nothing to do with the starter drive, you just keep W. E. in good running tune.

Hi Franklin. What I was saying the work load on the starter or modern bendix should not under stress because the engine responds immediately. what has changed is the modern bendix. Do you have a modern bendix on your starter? If not could I sell you one?. cheers, gary

 

[J Franklin]

In the 56 years I have driven my A I have lost a bendix bolt and had a broken spring only. I think I will keep my original configuration.