Model A Starter reverse drive

4

4bangerrodder

Junior Member
I have a '30 Model A with a Ron Kelly Motor, aluminum flywheel/V-8 clutch and uses a Ron Kelly converted Chevy harmonic balancer in front of the flywheel........so it has a reverse starter drive gear in order to extend the drive farther into the housing to engage the ring gear. Anyone know where to obtain another starter drive??
 
I just read in Secrets of Speed last night about the Model A speedster that finished the NewYork to Paris Race 2011. It was a rerun of the 1908 Race.

It was interesting to see the list of tools and parts they took along. They took a starter drive .

It must be like the one you need because the engine was rebuilt by Ron Kelly with a 48# flywheel and vibration dampner. Small world.

John
 
Several years ago when I was selling the modern starter drives, I found that they could be obtained with either a CW or CCW engagement. They are available but I do not have that business anymore.
Dr Dave
 
Just a guess but it could be 8N Ford tractor or maybe a V8 sixty horsepower flathead Ford, produced from 1937 thru 1940. Again, just a guess but may be worth looking at or better still, Just ask Ron, like John in Illinois suggested.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
Just a guess but it could be 8N Ford tractor or maybe a V8 sixty horsepower flathead Ford, produced from 1937 thru 1940. Again, just a guess but may be worth looking at or better still, Just ask Ron, like John in Illinois suggested.
Click to expand...

I believe those flywheels use a smaller diameter ring gear. The flathead V8 flywheels are the same diameter as the A B flywheel but the ring gear spacing is different necessitating the need to reverse the bendix gear plus the installation of an outboard bearing to support the shaft or it will bend. The critical part of the modification is to set the drive back enough to assure good engagement of the bendix gear into the ring gear. This also requires a bendix spring wound opposite of the stock spring.
 
Bill,
He says that he's using an 'aluminum' flywheel. I understand that an aluminum flywhl is ONLY about 20/25 lbs. What is you experience/input relative to using such a light flywhl in an A/B engine (i.e.-pros/cons) ...for street driver/ strip what?
 
hardtimes said:
Bill,
He says that he's using an 'aluminum' flywheel. I understand that an aluminum flywhl is ONLY about 20/25 lbs. What is you experience/input relative to using such a light flywhl in an A/B engine (i.e.-pros/cons) ...for street driver/ strip what?
Click to expand...

It is hard for me to compare as my car weighs only 1500 lbs. But I have run a 12.5 Lb flathead flywheel and had no problems wether we had 5.30's (hill climb) or 3.78's (drag). I have a 30Lb V8 fly wheel in the 29 RPU with reversed starter drive. I also have an engine with a 16 Lb Al. flywheel. You would probably have to slip the clutch if you had one this light in a sedan. I have had no experience with a model A aluminum flywheel.
 
Bill:

I got on the website that you posted. Looks like what I have, apparently, Ron Kelly used to send them out when he did them when I contacted him today, he thought they were a Nash drive. I'm still using it on a A/B starter with 12 volts, works good. Do you know anyone that would make me up an extra drive so that I can set up a back up starter? I'm sure willing to pay for someone's time, parts and trouble!! Thanks! Rohn
 
Try Hollywood Starter and Alternator, Inc. Dania Beach, FL 33004, (888) 921-7833.

I use both CCW and CW Barrel Assemblies. Is the Drive installed in front of the flywheel or behind the flywheel? Does the lead relief on the flywheel face towards the front of the flywheel or towards the rear? I use a early Ford V-8 flywheel, machined to around 28#, 10" clutch, '39 ****** with a 26 tooth Double Diamond cluster gear. Very smooooth and reliable.

Jerry Hurt
 
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