Starter Lock up

bige386

bige386

Senior Member
Its happened to me twice now. Once last summer and once today. I went over to the shop today after work to take the 46 for a drive and when I hit the starter button all I got was a CLICK CLICK. I had to lift the car up and pull the starter out which was stuck and didn't want to come out. After using a screw driver and a hammer to get the starter out I gave it a quick inspection and it seemed to be all there and the two bolts on the bendix where tight. The inner edge of the gear looked a little scarred up but not bad. Put it back together and it fired right up. Has anyone else had this problem and is there a fix for it to prevent it from happening again. Maybe a better style bendix ( Modern Style ) ?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
I had the same trouble and found that the shaft was bent. Not much but enough to lock up the starter. I attributed it to tha fact that when I bought the engine (with starter) prior to rebuilding the engine that the bracket that supports the end of the starter was missing. This bracket fastens to the starter via one long starter bolt and to the engine block vis an oil pan bolt.

Took the starter to a rebuilder, shaft was straigntened and problem dissappeared.
 
If the starter hangs up again, you can put it in gear (I usually use third) then get behind it and push it hard, while in gear. Rock it back and forth, you will eventually hear a loud pop, when the starter gear releases. Start it up and hit the road.
 
The starter in my car has always had the tail bracket that is secured by the oil pan bolt but that's not to say the starter shaft isn't tweaked a little. I also tried rocking the car back and forth with no luck. Last summer when this happened I had a guy tow me and dumped the clutch a couple times and it broke loose. I didn't like doing that tho.
I see Mac's has a modern Bendix for $25.50. Does anyone have any experience with one on these ?
Thanks again
 
I was on a bit of a hill the only time mine locked up... I didn't feel confident about the in gear method... I took the starter apart in place (took the barrel off) and used a large channel locks to twist the armature, worked well...
Karl
 
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It's most likely the brushes worn out. Carry a hammer along and next time it happens reach under and give the starter a few taps with the hammer. If it's the brushes that will probably jar them enough to contact the commuter and start. I had to do that for a while on two cars until I got brushes in to replace. Ran fine after that.
 
The after market Bendix drives being sold are inferior to the original Bendix used by Ford. You may have one of those in your car or your starter shaft may be bent. The scarred gears could also be your problem.
 
Simple most common cure is to put the car in 2nd gear, make sure the ignition switch in the off position and rock the car rearward to reverse turn the flywheel thus disengaging the stuck bendix. If the bendix looks good usually there is a burr on the starter ring gear, nipped tooth or just old worn ring gear.
 
I am 100% sure it isnt the brushes because the starter has new brushes in it. And I'm about 90% sure the bendix is an original and not an after market. I'm leaning toward the gear because I did see that the gear was scarred but I didn't think it was that bad but I guess any scarring is a bad thing. Ill have to go on the hunt and find me another bendix with a clean gear on it. The one Mac's offers are foreign made so Ill pass there.
Thanks guys for all of the imput.
 
The click click could be the starter bolt maybe stripped or not clean and tight.If it spins and can hear it maybe bendix is stuck at end.
 
Many of us, when we stop, leave the car in gear, never taking it out of gear. This would give enough force to put the starter in a "bad" position, especially if there are some worn spots on the flywheel.

On my long run to the DFlorida Fordbarn event my starter jammed in my driveway as we were about to leave. Had to remove it to get it to break free. We installed another starter and it jammed once at a gas station but we were able to get it to free up. Here's what I found that I was doing.

When I stop my car I was leaving it in gear, possibly jamming the starter. Before stopping I took it out of gear first, stopped, set the brake, then put it in gear (for added safety). I think you may find that the problem will all but disappear. It did for me (but I did go through 2 more starters before I realized my error - duh!!!)
 
TomT/Williamsburg said:
Many of us, when we stop, leave the car in gear, never taking it out of gear. This would give enough force to put the starter in a "bad" position, especially if there are some worn spots on the flywheel.

On my long run to the DFlorida Fordbarn event my starter jammed in my driveway as we were about to leave. Had to remove it to get it to break free. We installed another starter and it jammed once at a gas station but we were able to get it to free up. Here's what I found that I was doing.

When I stop my car I was leaving it in gear, possibly jamming the starter. Before stopping I took it out of gear first, stopped, set the brake, then put it in gear (for added safety). I think you may find that the problem will all but disappear. It did for me (but I did go through 2 more starters before I realized my error - duh!!!)
Click to expand...
i don't undersavvy: once the engine is running, doesn't the starter drive retract the drive gear so nothing is in contact with the flywheel ring gear? how could parking the car with it in gear have any way of changing this? when you start, dont you press the clutch pedal first? if you dont' mind, clue me in. thanks...jack
 
one other thought: a slightly misaligned starter plate (bent?) that causes the drive teeth to mesh with the flywheel teeth too deeply. a mesh pattern could be checked w/grease similar to the way rear end gear mesh is checked. anyone have other thoughts?...jack
 
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I had a problem with my starter after the car had been sitting ages, when I hit the button the motor just spun and the bendix would not engage. My auto electrician told me to pull the cap off the bell housing end which I did and squirt some CRC/WD40 in which I did. It worked. I know this is slightly off this topic but thought I would share this tip while we are on the subject of starters.

GB
 
GB.... I had the same problem on my 29 Model A. It happened a lot in the winter months also. The starter would just spin. I ended up using some 3n1 oil on it and it never did it again. But unfortunately this wasn't the case on the 46. The gears where stuck together.
 
Well, maybe it was just dumb luck on my part but not shutting the car off before taking it out of gear seemed to amplify the problem. This is, as I was rolling to a stop I shut the engine off with it in gear still. Once I pulled it out of gear, then stopped, then shut it off the problem went away (or shall we say, did not happen). Maybe it was dumb luck/coincidence but there were ALOT of starts and stops on that trip (1800 miles), I can tell you that.
 
This happened to me with my '37 Ford late last summer. The issue with mine was the small gear at the end of the starter. It was super sloppy on the spiral shaft. I bought a nice used bendix on ebay and problem over. Take a look at this gear. It may be your issue. If so, find a NOS bendix or a nice used one. The new bendix's on the market now are junk!
 
Thanks Don. That's my thought also. I just need to go on the hunt and find me a good used or new old stock Bendex.
 
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