1/2” Bendix

LEM

Senior Member
1/2” Bendix

I need a new Bendix for my 28’ starter motor but I cannot find a new one for a half inch shaft. Can one be purchased? Or can a sleeve be pressed into the 5/8” Bendix?
 
Re: 1/2” Bendix

Distributor bushings re .5" ID. Don't know if that would work for you. Or have a custom bushing/sleeve made. Use a later starter with the 5/8" shaft? Different switch, however.
 
Re: 1/2” Bendix

There is great bendix info on pages 570 to 572 of the Service Bulletins. As far as I know you cannot use a starter with a 5/8 shaft in place of the 1/2 inch shaft type without modifying the flywheel. Perhaps someone has a bendix available for a 1/2 starter. Post of photo or your damaged bendix someone may have a stash of old parts. good luck Supergnat
 
Re: 1/2” Bendix

The issue is that it is not a Bendix starter drive, the 1/2" shaft used an Able starter drive which are not available. Easier to change to a starter with a 5/8" drive.
 
Re: 1/2” Bendix

It is my understanding that you cannot change to a starter with a 5/8" drive, as the gear diameter is larger, even though both are 10 teeth.

I would post what you need in the wanted forum. Check with Berts. Look on eBay.

I do not believe parts are available for these from our vendors.
 
Re: 1/2” Bendix

The Page 284 of the service bulletins announces a new 1/2 inch starter assembly A-18475 with the new Special Drive installed. That can be a direct swap. The 1/2 shaft of the starter armature was machined to accommodate the new Special Drive. My October 28 Leatherback has the special drive (1/2 shaft which replaced the Abel drive which was used from Oct 28 until Ford transitioned to the 5/8 shaft starter drive Bendix drive which was then used until the end of production. Special Drive A11350-DR. See pages 303-305 of the Service Bulletins for more information
 

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Re: 1/2” Bendix

The Page 284 of the service bulletins announces a new 1/2 inch starter assembly A-18475...... until Ford transitioned to the 5/8 shaft starter drive Bendix drive which was then used until the end of production. Special Drive A11350-DR. See pages 303-305 of the Service Bulletins for more information
Ah, Thanks for that clarification I thoght I was misssing something!
 
Re: 1/2” Bendix

Working on a Model AA truck which the engine number puts to July 1928. The truck has a left hand brake lever and the earlier "no emergency brake shoes" arrangement. I.e an "early" AA truck.

Early with the Multi-disk clutch.

I was surprised to find the starter motor painted "red" (an obvious aftermarket replacement) with the "non-square" starter pedal switch (i.e. Later.) AND - this is the surprise I didn't expect - a 5/8" shaft bendix drive - like all the rest of my starter motors on hand.

I don't believe anything "special" was done to machine the flywheel - and the bendix appears unmodified.

Reading through the discussion above, I checked a multi-disk clutch flywheel/ring gear with a single plate clutch flywheel/ring gear. The two ring gears are IDENTICAL. Which tells me if the starter mount hole/location is identical between the AR housing and the later housing - then the bendix pinions must be the same

As I get further into this I will report more detailed findings.

Joe K
 
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Re: 1/2” Bendix

Joe, I am not familiar enough with the availability of starters etc over there but IMO, your best solution would be to end up with a 5/8" shaft. Surely they are available at a reasonable price over there.
I have a couple of 1/2" bendixes that I will never use. They are your for the shipping. Otherwise, maybe try Sammy Guthrie at Arizona Model A. He has quite a lot of used parts (and new).
 
Re: 1/2” Bendix

Joe, I am not familiar enough with the availability of starters etc over there but IMO, your best solution would be to end up with a 5/8" shaft. Surely they are available at a reasonable price over there.


THAT is the conundrum. This is a multi-disk clutch - but it seems to work fine with the 5/8" shaft "aftermarket" starter.


The only thing I can think is someone "cut the corner off the flywheel" to give room to pass the bolt heads on a 5/8" bendix. Until I get there and see it for sure.


Joe K
 
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