bendex problems

[jan quaak]

hello
my bendex jumps every time out of the flywheel when i am cranking my 1940 ford fordor
it jumps out when y push the starter button so i can't start what can be the problem then bendex is a modern type bendex
i hope someone can gife me an answer

[51 MERC-CT]

Unless you remove the starter to inspect the Bendix to see what if anything is wrong with it, any advise would just be guessing.

[jan quaak]

hi i removed the starter but i can not see anything wrong

[drolston]

Since you have the starter out, please post a picture showing the Bendix.

Not sure exactly what you mean when you say it "jumps out". Does it just spin without cranking? Does it start to crank the engine and then disengage before it fires? Does the engine fire a little and then it disengages?

[flatheadmurre]

Since they are inertia type the acceleration of the starter should push the gear into the ringgear and keep it there until you release starter button or engine spins faster then starter.
So starter can go to slow...or friction between gear and bendix to high not letting it engage properly.
Flywheel ringgear worn so it kicks the bendix gear back out.
As said before...pics and a real good description of what goes on...

[1931 flamingo]

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There's an interesting article in the latest issue of The V8 Times magazine about the original style Bendix and the "new" style.


My son cancelled my MAFCA membership and got me the EV8 Club membership .
Paul in CT

[chap52]

Sometimes the ring gear on the flywheel gets "tweaked", or worn in a certain spot. The engine always stops in the same couple of spots. Therefore the odds of aligning with the "tweaked" spot are good.

Some folks remove the ring gear , rotate it 45 degrees and reinstall it. My thought is if I got to go through all that just replace it.

Does the starter just spin and the engine doesn't turn over. Something to think about? Chap

[jan quaak]

when i start the engine the bendix kiks in but it jumps before out the engine fires

[19Fordy]

Does starter work (when out of the car) when you hook a battery charger to it?

[Jack E/NJ]

Originally Posted by jan quaak

hi i removed the starter but i can not see anything wrong

How much armature shaft endplay can you see by pulling on the bendix drive assembly? Jack E/NJ

[rotorwrench]

One of the only bad things about the early type Bendix is that the engine can fire one cylinder and kick the Bendix gear out. If it's only firing on one, the damn thing won't carry through with a complete start. The later type Bendix is better but not by a large margin and they are hell to get in and out of the bell housing.

A person has to find out why it won't fire more than one or two cylinders if this process doesn't improve. Check the compression, accelerator pump, ignition system etc., if it won't start. In the cooler months, they can show up problems that didn't exist in warmer months.

[jan quaak]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Does starter work (when out of the car) when you hook a battery charger to it?

yes the motor works when it is out of the car

[jan quaak]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

One of the only bad things about the early type Bendix is that the engine can fire one cylinder and kick the Bendix gear out. If it's only firing on one, the damn thing won't carry through with a complete start. The later type Bendix is better but not by a large margin and they are hell to get in and out of the bell housing.

A person has to find out why it won't fire more than one or two cylinders if this process doesn't improve. Check the compression, accelerator pump, ignition system etc., if it won't start. In the cooler months, they can show up problems that didn't exist in warmer months.

the bendex is the later more modern model

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

One of the only bad things about the early type Bendix is that the engine can fire one cylinder and kick the Bendix gear out. If it's only firing on one, the damn thing won't carry through with a complete start. The later type Bendix is better but not by a large margin and they are hell to get in and out of the bell housing.

A person has to find out why it won't fire more than one or two cylinders if this process doesn't improve. Check the compression, accelerator pump, ignition system etc., if it won't start. In the cooler months, they can show up problems that didn't exist in warmer months.

Hell to get out and in the hole is a understatement. I have a new one we ( my son and I) tried to fit to our Bonneville truck for some time . I finally gave up and went down to the local starter place and had them install the old style. Works like a champ!!

[19Fordy]

jan: Consider installing the OEM Bendix starter as Bubba suggested. Also, make sure the little hanger clip that bolts the starter to the oil pan is installed.

[jan quaak]

oke i have an old type bendex on stock but it is a lot bigger then the one y have at this moment on my starter engine does that fits on the flywheel and how can i post a picture of the two so you can see the difference

[19Fordy]

Jan, Your Bendix should look like this.

[jan quaak]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Jan, Your Bendix should look like this.

no it is a closed type you can not see the spring

[Jack E/NJ]

Like this? Jack E/NJ

[Steve in Denver]

I had the reverse of the problem, the starter would engage and not kick back out. The engine would try to start, but just wouldn't. For some reason installing a new battery fixed that problem.