Is the bendix a nigtmare?

[Dino's A]

Originally Posted by Tom F OHIO

Yes that had me nervous. I went today and bought me a new flexible magnet and I got the bolt and the washer out.

Congrats Tom! Now you don't have to worry about that!

[jak]

Originally Posted by Tom F OHIO

I lost a bolt off of my bendix and can't find it with a magnet. Will I be okay to
drive it with that bolt laying in there.

Put a strong magnet onto the flywheel, and turn the engine over slowly by hand. as the magnet goes around you should hear the magnet pick up the bolt and one the magnet get to the starter opening remove both of them.

[red or green]

Originally Posted by Tom F OHIO

I lost a bolt off of my bendix and can't find it with a magnet. Will I be okay to
drive it with that bolt laying in there.

With the starter removed, place a strong "rare-earth" magnet on the outer diameter of the flywheel...rotate the engine using your hand crank and when the maginet re-appears so will your bolt

[German guy]

Bob Biondi.


Thanks. That is what I am doing. Having my mechanic locate three OEM bendix bolts in the trans made the message clear. While they may be working well on some cars they have a serious flaw. I may not be a master mechanic but I am pretty sure that my predecessor and I did not install the bendix incorrectly three times. That lock washer is a pretty flimsy source of false security for something that can result in a catastrophic transmission failure.

[Terry Burtz, Calif]

Originally Posted by German guy

Bob Biondi.


Thanks. That is what I am doing. Having my mechanic locate three OEM bendix bolts in the trans made the message clear. While they may be working well on some cars they have a serious flaw. I may not be a master mechanic but I am pretty sure that my predecessor and I did not install the bendix incorrectly three times. That lock washer is a pretty flimsy source of false security for something that can result in a catastrophic transmission failure.

When you get the new replacement drive, extend the gear completely and compare the length of extension to the extension of an original Bendix drive. The original Bendix extends the gear 5/32 inch further which guarantees full engagement of the ring gear.

The new drive is a tractor part that is not a direct replacement for the original Bendix.

Total gear engagement also depends on the crankshaft thrust bearings and starter motor thrust.