starter bolts too long

[diomed]

I had my starter out to replace the bolts on the bendix spring. When I put the starter back in, I used a set of bolts that were supposed to be copies of an original Ford bolt and lock washer. I like it when things look sorta original. After getting it all back together and ready to go for a drive, I started it and the starter was dragging a bit. It started right up, but when I pushed in on the clutch the engine died down a lot. Let the clutch out and the revs came back up but wasn't sounding right. I assumed I messed up something putting the starter bendix back together. When i went to remove the inside starter bolt, it was a bear getting it out. Check out the photos.

I blindly assumed that a packaged set of OEM style starter bolts would work as is. I replaced that inside bolt with the old bolt and now everything is fine.

Thankfully it's only 107F in the garage today.

 

[Bob C]

They should be 1" long.

Bob

 

[Art Newland]

Maybe a little too much wear in the thrust bearing and the flywheel is moving forward when the clutch is pushed in?

 

[Benson]

Gordon Biggs posted a thread on or about 04-27-16... discussing this subject>

I can not find the thread to post it here.

It seems that there were 4 different flanges on starters ...

Here is a PM that Gordon sent me:

04-27-2016, 05:54 PM
Colonel Biggs
Member

Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Houston,, Texas
Default " engine won't start ..."
Hi, Benson --

Your remark about the lock washers was most appropriate. Bill McCree mentioned to me to use a spacer to duplicate the thickness of the end plate, but not to forget to account also for the width of a lock washer, because if the bolts are installed without lock washers, this definitely could cause the end of the bolt to run up against the flywheel.

He also noted that Ford produced four different versions of the starter during production years. Hence, he said, one cannot use a specific mounting bolt (however "original"), because the casting thicknesses changed.

Gordon

 

[Terry NJ]

I recently did the same thing. Only My starter wouldn't even turn the engine. I hadn't turned the engine over in a while and I thought it was seized up. When I put the new starter in, I had forgotten the difference in bolt length. I won't forget it again.
Terry

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

A friend found a Model A that had been stored for YEARS. Engine was "SEIZED"---He loosened that starter bolt & it turned. 3 1/2 hours later, he had it running like a sewing machine!
Bill W.

 

[diomed]

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I assume that in 88 years of Model A life that every possible situation has happened at least a few dozen times. Unfortunately this is one solution I couldn't find with a 'barn search.

 

[PC/SR]

Not too hard to get them right. The top bolt can be any length because it runs free at the top. The others, take the bolt you want to use, turn it in until 3/8" is not turned in(that being the a bit less than the starter flange and a lock washer), feel inside to see if it protrudes into the housing. Or better, measure it all yourself. Surprising how many problems on here are measurement problems. Measure things. At least get a cheap Harbor Freight micrometer. Better than nothing.