Starter Bendix

[johnr9q@yahoo.com]

I am assembling my Bendix and I'm not sure what things are. In my photo , the top arrow is a small spring, what is that for? The bottom arrow is a notch on a part, why is that notch there?

 

[nkaminar]

I don't know what the small spring is for but the notch is because that is a weight. The weight keeps the gear from moving forward when the motor is running. Gravity keeps it from moving. The weight stays with the heavy part down and the gear does not move.

 

[johnr9q@yahoo.com]

Does anyone know what the small spring is for?
nkaminar: why does the weight need a notch?

 

[German guy]

I do not know what the spring is for...BUT...after buying my 30 Tudor my bendix failed within a month...about 200km...came loose and sent one bolt down into the bell housing....or so I thought. I replaced it with a new bendix but could not locate the missing bolt. I had a local mechanic do the installation to ensure that it was done correctly. After 3 months that bendix failed losing the same bolt. Took the car to a "classic car specialist" who charged me 289 euro an hour for 5 hours. He dropped the transmission and located 5 FIVE bendix bolts...not in the bell housing...in the transmission!... so clearly this was not an issue of my sloppy work. I installed the new version of bendix and have not had a problem since. I have heard any number of comments that the old version has never been a problem....but 5 failures by three owners and professional mechanics is more than coincidence.

 

[nkaminar]

Sorry, I thought you were talking about the big flat area. I have no idea what the small notch is for.

 

[Jim/GA]

The small spring provides a little tension, a little friction, for when the gear is fully retracted. Parked. To keep it back there, away from the flywheel ring gear.

The notch makes the gear heavier on one side than on the other, so that when the starter motor shaft spins, the heavy side of the gear tends to stay down and make the gear NOT turn with the shaft, until the teeth engage in the ring gear and the gear has spun all the way in on the spiral. Then the gear turns with the shaft and turns the flywheel.
.

 

[Bob Bidonde]

My advice is to use a modern Ford starter drive that is made in the USA. The original Bendix drive is prone to failure especially if you have used parts in it.

 

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

My advice is to use a modern Ford starter drive that is made in the USA. The original Bendix drive is prone to failure especially if you have used parts in it.

So does the modern one. Just the bolt parts can’t come out. The Bendix is an every two year maintenance item( depending on mileage) at my shop.

 

[AzBob]

X2. In addition, the modern Bendix makes it a pain of a job to remove the starter if the need arises.

 

[Ruth]

X2. In addition, the modern Bendix makes it a pain of a job to remove the starter if the need arises.

Hopefully you don't have to do that very often. I can't remember the last time I had my starter off and I am running 12 volts.

 

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Hopefully you don't have to do that very often. I can't remember the last time I had my starter off and I am running 12 volts.

You just unleashed the genie. Better order the new parts