How "unstick" bendix drive?

[Mike B]

I've been working on the neighbors 8n, starter looks just like a flathead V8 starter...anyways, some how the bendix got fully extended tried rocking the tractor back and forth in gear...still stuck..

Pulled the starter and cannot figure out how to get the drive back in the correct position?

Any help?

Thyanks

[oldskool]

I belive if you hook up battery to it and spin it it will reset

[George/Maine]

I had one get stuck all it would do is spin.
Had to pull starter, after doing it twice i replaced the bendix.
Think it was made wrong.

[Terry,OH]

When the starter motor turns it throws the drive into the engagement position and when the engine starts and spins the engaged gear it resets the bendix. Try some lube and then tap the gear toward the disengaged position. make sure to lube the small pin and it's spring. when the bendix moves smoothly you have to clean off all the lube and dirt before reassembly into the tractor. The drive should be without lube.

[Mike B]

I'll give it another try...I did fire off the starter on the bench a few times, hoping it'd reset..no luck tho..will try some lube and tapping a bit.

Thanks.

[Mike B]

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Wow, that sucker is stuck...I have the gear/spring assy apart, anyone have ideas how to take the spiral drive apart? I can't spot a snap ring or the like holding it in...might need to break out the reading glasses.

[cmbrucew]

Use the wire brush on a bench grinder on the gear. it will give the bendix enough speed to retract as normal.

Bruce

Works good
Lasts long time

[V12Bill]

Keep your fingers away from the spring!! Could ruin your day.

[V12Bill]

Remove the bendix drive by removing the bolt closest to the motor. It not only holds the spring in place, there is an extension of the bolt that goes into a notch in the starter shaft.

[41ford1]

Been there. There is a snap ring on the inside of the big end of gear. Remove it and the gear slides off. The problem is the detent on the gear carrier. You will see two covers for them. Now the fun begins. You need a pick and a small blade driver to get the gear carrier off the spiral. There is a heavy wire ring at the end of the drive. It has to be removed to to get the carrier off. When you get the ring off CAREFULLY slide the carrier off by covering it with a rag to catch the detent slug and springs. When you get the carrier off the spiral knock out the detent covers with a drift. Clean everything and reassemble. When reassembling be sure to line up one of the detents with the ramped slot on the spiral piece. If you don't, the starter will disengage before the engine starts. Good luck. At least you are working on a bench. The last one I did was in a 7-11 parking lot.

[Mike B]

Thanks again Gents,

I think 41ford1 nailed what I need to do...but I have the owner ordering a new bendix for it anyway, his $26 and shipping, will save me some aggravation

[Brian]

Actually, with an 8N, if the bendix is in that 'locked' position, all you gotta do is start the tractor with the starter motor, and it'll return by itself.

[funrunr]

I wish I would've seen this earlier, all you need to do is take the starter to a bench grinder that has a WIRE wheel on it. I don't know the correct name but the part on the end that is extended needs to spin on the wire wheel, once it gets to a high enough RPM it will retract back to it's normal spot. Trust me I learned the hard way too.

[George/Maine]

I bought a 46 car few years ago and mine got stuck twice.The ower had problems with it.I think it was and off shore piece of junk,the splinds would jam on end.The starter would just spin.
I replaced it the bendix.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by Brian

Actually, with an 8N, if the bendix is in that 'locked' position, all you gotta do is start the tractor with the starter motor, and it'll return by itself.

All she would do is go "click"...would't even turn the engine over.

Starter Torqued over fine on the bench though.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by funrunr

I wish I would've seen this earlier, all you need to do is take the starter to a bench grinder that has a WIRE wheel on it. I don't know the correct name but the part on the end that is extended needs to spin on the wire wheel, once it gets to a high enough RPM it will retract back to it's normal spot. Trust me I learned the hard way too.

I didn't try it on a grinder, but did let the starter come up to speed...maybe not fast as a grinder motor?

[41ford1]

The grinder trick will work since the gear is being driven as when the engine starts. I will remember it. In my case it was roadside fix because the snap ring holding the gear on came off. It made for some amusement during the Maine tour last summer.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by 41ford1

The grinder trick will work since the gear is being driven as when the engine starts. .

I get it!!

[frenchy dehoux]

I had the same issue with my starter on my V12 Flathead which is the same starter as a Ford. The starter I had issues with is the one on the left with out the spiral shaft. I replaced it with the one on the right as you can see the spiral is all the way to the end of the shaft so it has to turn over.

Frenchy

[Mike B]

Well, I guess I should update this, but we still hadn't received the Bendix yet, so yesterday I did the "grinder" trick...and it worked like a charm.

Thanks again gents!

[funrunr]

Good stuff glad to hear it worked