Bendix Drive Spring Or Not?

[Dino's A]

I replaced a Bendix drive on a 1931 Town Car
for a friend and the old bendix drive had the
spring on the shaft. His new one did not.

What's the deal here? The new starter and drive fixed
him up but why the difference here? Educate me.

Note: This is NOT, NOT about the modern style.

[Phil Brown]

What did you replace the old one with ?
Hard to explain differences and pro's/con's if we dont know what you used

[katy]

Pictures of both would help.

[johnbuckley]

ah the little light spring that theortictally keeps the dog away from the ring when not in use ? Some 'ave them some don't , I've used both and noticed no difference

[JOES31]

Originally Posted by Phil Brown

What did you replace the old one with ?
Hard to explain differences and pro's/con's if we dont know what you used

He told you that the old bendix had the spring and the new
one didn't.

[Bob C]

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This spring?

[Dino's A]

Originally Posted by Bob C

This spring?

Yes Bob, that was the old one I took off. The new one did not
have a spring. Just wondering why some have a spring and
some don't.

[Phil Brown]

Originally Posted by JOES31

He told you that the old bendix had the spring and the new
one didn't.

Well in that case you tell him the difference (if you know)

[Dino's A]

Originally Posted by johnbuckley

ah the little light spring that theortictally keeps the dog away from the ring when not in use ? Some 'ave them some don't , I've used both and noticed no difference

Thanks John. As long if the one without that spring works fine,
I'm good. I was just curious.

[Benson]

I agree Photo needed.

There are 6 versions that I know of.

two have no spring.

some have one spring of two totally different designs.

one has two springs and an additional part.

Another that is totally encased in a steel housing with no parts visible.

Then there is the Abel drive.

[rotorwrench]

The starter drives evolved over time since they were used on engines produced long after the model A era. Early model A engines came with the Able type drive till the multi disk clutch was discontinued. The new types had multiple variations during the model A production.

Those starter drives made after model A production became the replacement parts for the model A. The weak return spring was added sometime after model A production in order to insure the bendix pinion wouldn't make contact with the starter ring on the flywheel during normal operation. The bendix will function without it but it doesn't hurt to have that little fail safe spring on there to reduce chances of pinion wear due to contact with the flywheel ring in service.

[Dino's A]

Thanks Benson & Rotorwrench. That really clears things up.
I can see why there was a spring added to make sure the bendix gear
stayed out of the way of the flywheel. Makes good sense.
Thanks Again,
Dino F.
Arcadia Ca.

[Benson]

The clue that gear is striking flywheel is you will hear a faint "Ching Ching" metallic kind of ringing noise when going very slowly down a steep hill. Braking lightly will sometimes force gear to hit the flywheel as gear turns on the "spiral".

When Bendix gear strikes the flywheel sometimes it turns slightly and noise might go away for a while then sound comes back later.

Of course at speed there are too many other noises to even notice it.

[P.S.]

Why doesn't someone just answer his question directly?


Dino, Some bendix mechanisms have the spring you mention to keep the gear on the spiral shaft away from the flywheel when the car is going downhill. Without it, gravity can cause the gear to bounce off the flywheel ring gear and eventually cause unwanted gear wear. I prefer to have them over not having them. Your mileage may vary.

[Dino's A]

Originally Posted by P.S.

Why doesn't someone just answer his question directly?


Dino, Some bendix mechanisms have the spring you mention to keep the gear on the spiral shaft away from the flywheel when the car is going downhill. Without it, gravity can cause the gear to bounce off the flywheel ring gear and eventually cause unwanted gear wear. I prefer to have them over not having them. Your mileage may vary.

I appreciate your response. I know have learned something
important as I learn the quirks of this car. I never had a choice
of a spring or no spring on any other car I have wrenched on