I have my engine barking off the key. Trouble is, the outer bolt on the bendix is striking something and making a heck of a noise until the starter winds down. The outer end of the bendix wiggles a little bit even with the bolt tightened down. The inner end of the bendix slides freely along the starter shaft. I'm not sure what to do about it but the last thing I need is for the end of that bendix to come off and get ****ed up by the flywheel. Here's a pic for reference, I hope it will help.
Eyeballing it and referencing against scratches on the workbench it seemed fine as I rotated it. Same deal for the starter.
So if it spins roundly, whatever is in the bellhousing it’s s****ing on must be wrong. Or maybe you have repro parts that aren’t the right size? What bellhousing is it?
9 out of 10 usually are bent your right on track with that. everything else OP stated about the drive is normal.
Sometimes the only way to check for the ol bent shaft is to chuck the armature up in the lathe. I've even seen kind of an "S" bend that makes the drive act goofy.
It's a cast iron bellhousing, looks like more of a ring VS that hog head one. All my parts are OEM, and clapped out.
The outermost end is supposed to be sort of loose? It doesn't make sense to me but I'll take your word for it. Well, that would tell me more. I have a lathe and a dial indicator.
The part you have marked "slides freely" should flex a little, but not much. If that upper bolt that holds the spring is to long it can bottom out and allow the spring to move, that should not happen, the bolt should hold the eyelet tight.
I have a NOS one in front of me now and the end is a tad loose but the one in the middle is tighter than ****s hatband. Sounds like the spring is busted which normal for shooting 12v to it. I can’t tell you how many I destroyed in my time. Here is a pic of it
I appreciate that, sometimes I really miss it, but it's the interaction with customers I miss more than anything. It's only been a year since closing that side of the business and I'm surprised at how I have already forgotten numbers that I delt with every day.
Ok, I'll take a look at it tomorrow weather permitting. I'm new to flatheads. I ***embled this one three times before I got it right. It's still got things to teach me. Once it fires and the starter winds down the engine sounds amazing!
Is the starter plate correct for your bell housing, and is the flywheel correct for your block? A couple pictures may be helpful.
Both bolts are original from what I can tell. They both have "Bendix" embossed on them. The rear bolt just looks like a bolt. The other bolt has a narrowed section on the end that almost looks like a grub screw. Being that the rear section should not slide free like it does, think my rear bolt sheared off and that could be causing this? If both bolts ought to be the same, this sure won't help my situation right?
Ok, here's something. That sheet metal can looking thing on the bell housing. When I got my bell, that can was kinda tore up. I bench ran the engine like that but when I went to install it I repaired the can. Hammered it back to what looked decent and welded it up. Possible that it's striking that can thinger? It didn't make that noise when I bench ran the engine.
A common mistake is using the angled starter plate. It bolts up fine, but angles the starter down when used on any bell except the full size '49-'51 stamped steel bell. Your 3" iron truck bell needs the flat/indented truck starter plate.
Understood. The guy that sold me the bell also sold me the starter plate and starter and he builds a bunch of traditional hot rods. I remember it didn't make that noise when I bench ran the engine. The can in the bell was mangled but I didn't bother with it for the bench run. I can't remember exactly but I believe after the bench run was when I "repaired" it. It looked like something, maybe the end of a bendix, had fired right out through it. I hammered it roughly into shape and welded it up.
I pulled the starter today, sure enough where I repaired it, I burnt through and there was a booger that the bolt was striking. I got a round file in there and worked it down enough to clear. Sounds great now! Thanks for all the replies!
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