Electrical: Update

[Hawklover]

Well ran some tests and sure enough......the starter motor is history................

First thing I noticed were the teeth on the Bendix.........chewed to sheet............have to wait till next week for the shop to open her up...........I do have a question...........can one assume the teeth on a Bendix are of a softer metal composition that that of the ring gear?

I do not want to know about needing a new ring gear:-( ...........and from the condition of that Bendix drive teeth..........I shudder to think of what the ring gear could look like.............

[tbirdtbird]

i would rotate the flywheel 360* and check the ring gear teeth. there may be a chipped or missing one that is chewing the Bendix. Better to look now than later.....after the new starter is installed and trouble begins again....just to be sure....

[Dads Baby]

The Texan TBird just hit the nail on the head! The time to inspect the ring gear is while you have the starter out!

[Hawklover]

Ok but are the teeth on the bendix softer than those on the ring gear?

[Hawklover]

The sad sad truth.............

Well the starter sat on the bench........then the ugly truth became evident...........Bendix teeth shot, armature bent to hell.......ordered a brand new armature with a matched Bendix drive.

Even if the ring gear is shot will leave it in as the ring has a natural set point......I will give a look before the starter goes back in as to what decernable damage the starter exhibits.

The last starter lasted six years.........I doubt I will own the car in six years.......:-)

[tbirdtbird]

??????
Even if the ring gear is shot will leave it in as the ring has a natural set point.
??????

does that mean you will sell the car knowing the ring gear is bad?
Most starters last at least 20 yrs

[Hawklover]

When I sell I will inform the new owner.......I just do not have the time or money to pull the clutch etc.....the car is only used in the summer and then no more than ten times in four months.......btw....the price was more than fair........$130.00 complete......can not beat that!

??????
Even if the ring gear is shot will leave it in as the ring has a natural set point.
??????

does that mean you will sell the car knowing the ring gear is bad?
Most starters last at least 20 yrs

[jackb]

always park on a hill, and jump start the car to save the new starter......make sure OD is "out"

[warrlaw1]

If I recall, on a V8 the ring gear stops at four points in its rotation. That's where the starter engages. I remember a thread some time ago where people discussed moving the ring gear on the flywheel. Is this a doable option? If the ring gear is off, I guess a new one would be just as easy to install.

[skyway]

V8's tend to stop in one of 4 places, 6's in one of 3.
If its a stick don't just "move" the ring gear on the flywheel, just bite the bullet and install a new ring gear.
If its an auto trans (at least on Flightomatics), you can unbolt the flexplate, and advance the torque converter one bolt hole.
This gives you 4 (or 3 with a 6) new stopping points. Worthwhile if you are not ready to drop the trans.

[Hawklover]

The never ending story is now ended.

Starter motor now has brand new Bendix and brand new armature.

The car starts exceedingly fast, and the motor is dead silent...........and I took a peak at the ring gear........yes I saw where the Bendix scraped the teeth........but did not see and teeth actually broken.............topped her off with gas and now good to go...........I also put in a new magnetic switch...........I had it so I felt why not.......Stude life is good:-)

[warrlaw1]

That's a great way to end the story...for now ))))))))))))))))

[Hawklover]

Perry, that is exactly what I told Paul and Della yesterday!

That's a great way to end the story...for now ))))))))))))))))