Where did the bolt go...??

bobpo1

bobpo1

Senior Member
I lost the forward Starter Bendix spring bolt and of course have not been able to locate it with a magnet.

Any ideas as to where it went?

Is it going to be a problem?
 
More then likely the bottom of the flywheel housing. When I took my engine apart I found 7 or 9 beat up ones down there. Try using a magnet on a flexible wand through the clutch adjustment door.
 
I used a flexible four prong retriever and duct taped a rare earth 8 # magnet in the prongs and have retrieved several Bendix spring bolts and washers in a very short retrieval time. See the below photos.

Good luck



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The bolt will be at the bottom of the flywheel housing. I've never had any luck with a magnet because there is just too much metal for the magnet to attach its self to before it can reach the bottom of the flywheel housing. I would remove the starter and put a large glob of heavy grease on the flywheel ring gear. Turn the hand crank while a helper watches through the hole where the starter was removed. When the glob of grease comes back around, usually the Bendix bolt will be in the grease. I have also found bendix bolts in the flywheel housings when removing engines. The bolts would be worn from the flywheel rubbing them for years. These bolts have never caused a problem. I don't worry much about it, but anything can happen. Some have either ended up removing the backend and transmission or the engine to get to the bolts. Many times after going to all of the trouble, they find several loose bolts resting at the bottom of the housing. I now mostly use the modern barrell starter drive when problems occur.
 
I have a bendix bolt and the magnet I tried to retrieve it with still down in the bellhousing.
I have chosen not to lose sleep over it.
 
I have seen one housing with a hole busted out due to the bolt getting jammed in the flywheel. I think it's best to remove it, even if it takes a few hours. Maybe a friend or plumber has an inspection camera you could borrow to spot the bolt.
 
I have a Milwaukee inspection camera which also had an attachment with a magnet on it and it retrieved my broken bolt very quickly as I just put it where I wanted it!

This was of course after a few hours of trying with magnets on a stick without being able to see what I was after, I believe I got a washer or two out that way but it was hit or miss.

I didn't try grease, it sounds like it would be quite effective as well.
 
Just a thought,but maybe you could go to a tool and equipment rental store and rent one of those inspection cameras. Good luck
 
As I was reading these suggestions my wife handed me a flyer from today's mail. It was from Harbor Freight and shows a 2.4" LCD Digital Inspection Camera on sale for $69.99. Maybe at this point it might be a good idea. Not to mention they also have several coupons for items that normally sell for as much as $6.99 free with a coupon and no purchase necessary. Maybe a trip to HF is in order.....!!!!
 
Speeking of H/F coupons, a couple weeks ago I had a coupon for the 1 1/2 ton aluminum jack for $70. That was one of the best things I ever bought there. I tested it by leaving the front of my Studebaker in the air for 3 days, and the jack didn't move an inch. It's nice and light, so it's nice to take on trips or service calls.
 
I lost a Bendix bolt on my first A coupe when I was in high school 57 yrs ago. As I remember, I rolled up a rag into a long spiral and stuffed it in the starter hole and slowly hand cranked the engine. As the rag, pushed by the flywheel teeth, came around to the starter hole again, the bolt fell out.

Glen
 
Unfortunately I have experienced one getting wedged on the back side of the flywheel and ended up having to pull the motor. (Yes I now know that pulling the rear end is easier than the motor for this repair.)
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
Speeking of H/F coupons, a couple weeks ago I had a coupon for the 1 1/2 ton aluminum jack for $70. That was one of the best things I ever bought there. I tested it by leaving the front of my Studebaker in the air for 3 days, and the jack didn't move an inch. It's nice and light, so it's nice to take on trips or service calls.
Click to expand...

I got the very same in march... works well so far.
 
mshmodela said:
I suppose Harbor Fright is the male/car person version of Michael's craft stores ;)
Click to expand...

Well, I did it. Bought the Harbor Freight camera. It came with a magnet attachment (fairly strong one) and fished it down into the flywheel housing and saw the bolt and heard the "click" at the same time. Came out without a hitch. :o

Note the head of the bolt, how it's been distorted. That's how it looks after I wiped all the grease off it. The washer had also been sheared. Now bear in mind that all I did was start the Coupe to see if the starter to make sure it engaged after installing the new bolts. I immediately shut it off. Glad I didn't run it.
 

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See this page of the Snyder's catalog (the others carry them too): Modern Starter Drive

Keep in mind this will not fit the early '28 starters with the smaller shafts.
 

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My flywheel housing had a mess of a hole in the bottom of it from someone drilling small holes and knocking the center out to get a bolt out. While I had the engine apart I machined the hole clean and drilled to small holes on the side that I tapped. Just need to get around to making an inspection plate cover for the hole. Not original by any means but hey won't have problems with bolts hanging out there...
 

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