Starter hanging on flywheel

[fortyonerag]

My 41 Ford convert is all stock (except lower and a 12v conversion). It's been running well, but just lately I have detected a whirring noise while driving and a slight vibration at speed.

I suspect the noise and vibration was the starter not fully disengaging from the flywheel. I deduced this the other day when the Bendix broke!

What might cause the starter to not fully disengage?

I rebuilt the starter and new Bendix about a year ago and it has given good service up until now. I have fitted a new solenoid and the starter was on no way loose.

All advice appreciated.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by fortyonerag

My 41 Ford convert is all stock (except lower and a 12v conversion). It's been running well, but just lately I have detected a whirring noise while driving and a slight vibration at speed.

I suspect the noise and vibration was the starter not fully disengaging from the flywheel. I deduced this the other day when the Bendix broke!

What might cause the starter to not fully disengage?

I rebuilt the starter and new Bendix about a year ago and it has given good service up until now. I have fitted a new solenoid and the starter was on no way loose.

All advice appreciated.

My guess? The starter drive wasn't disengaging properly because it was weak.
Did you replace the spring at the same time? New? Or new-old-stock?

Do you have that small bracket at the end of the starter body that bolts to the oil pan lip?

[fortyonerag]

Thanks for the info. It hadn't occurred to me that the drive itself could be weak. At the time of rebuild I replaced the entire drive as the old one had some pieces broken. I also fitted a new spring from C&G. I'll look into another drive head.

Is there meant to be a 'return' spring on the drive?

What is the general view about the new 'barrel drives'? I have read they are preferable with 12V but would like to stay with Bendix if I could.

The small bracket to the oil pan lip was in place and the starter was firmly in.

[alanwoodieman]

I use the barrel drives with 12 volts, actually work better, less slam. make sure you do NOT use grease or any other wet lube on the Bendix drive it tends to bind up the sloppy part of the kick out from flywheel, also look at flywheel for bad teeth

[fortyonerag]

Thanks AW. Not knowing, I greased it last time.

[ford38v8]

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My guess… you’ve got a 6 volt motor overpowered by a 12 volt battery. Your bendix wasn’t designed to take that abuse.

[fortyonerag]

^^^Thanks, there are many threads here about the effect of 12V on Bendix springs.
Just how did 12V cause the starter to not disengage?
I believe that as the starter remained engaged to the flywheel, sufficient stresses were placed on the drive spring to weaken it.
So, what caused the drive spring to not disengage?

[alanwoodieman]

bent starter shaft, sticking bendix, bad teeth on fly wheel and of course loose bolts, lack of little brace

[chap52]

I ran a 6vt. starter with 12 vt for 12 years. Replaced a broken bendix twice and the ring gear once. I "assume" that the added torque of the 6 vt starter worked the ring gear loose but it was the original and it was due for retirement anyway. Chap