Geared starters

[Shoebox]

As I continue to gather parts to build a flathead V8 for my 6 cylinder '51 Tudor, I come to the issue of a starter. I have several originals to chose from for rebuilding but I'd like to try a geared starter. For flatheads I believe the only offering is Powermaster, and I'm interested if anyone has used one, or any other brand. I forgot to mention the car is 12 volt. Thanks!

[cadillac512]

I have the Powermaster on my 8BA style flathead, and it works well. A friend is running one as well and it's been fine too. Speedway Motors sells their own brand and calls it "stump puller"...looks same as the Powermaster. Either one may need to be installed upside down depending on exhaust manifold clearance, but they work great either way.



Terry

[Shoebox]

Originally Posted by cadillac512

I have the Powermaster on my 8BA style flathead, and it works well. A friend is running one as well and it's been fine too. Speedway Motors sells their own brand and calls it "stump puller"...looks same as the Powermaster. Either one may need to be installed upside down depending on exhaust manifold clearance, but they work great either way.



Terry

Hey Terry,
Thanks for the input. I have looked at (pictures) of Speedways offering side by side with the Powermaster and they aside from colors, look the same, possibly built for Speedway for a lower price point. Anyway good to hear you and your friend have had good luck.

[Ken/Alabama]

Them Powermaster starters makes a good tire chock ! Give me a Ford starter any day.

[51504bat]

This thread on the HAMB deals with Power Master starters. I had a bad experience with a Power Master but it wasn't the gear reduction unit. Photos in the thread.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...#post-14342691

[tubman]

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"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

If a stock Ford doesn't perform properly, there is something wrong : armature, brushes, bushings. All cheap and easily replaced.

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[Charlie ny]

I used the PM XS starters on my '32 and '41, very happy no issues. The '41 install

was straight forward, I had to clock it for the '32. I like the idea that the starter gear

is pushed out rather than pulled in...'in' force ends up going against

the shoulder on the flywheel. These starters do exhaust the battery quicker than
a stock Ford.
Charlie ny

[51504bat]

Originally Posted by Charlie ny

I used the PM XS starters on my '32 and '41, very happy no issues. The '41 install

was straight forward, I had to clock it for the '32. I like the idea that the starter gear

is pushed out rather than pulled in...'in' force ends up going against

the shoulder on the flywheel. These starters do exhaust the battery quicker than
a stock Ford.
Charlie ny

Charlie,
Did you flip the ring gear so the bevels on the teeth matched the starter pushing instead of pulling or keep in original?

[Robert/Texas]

About five years ago I bought a Stump Puller starter for my ’34 roadster. The reason for buying this was that the Bendix broke, probably due to 12 volts. I got the starter off but it was difficult due to tightness between the starter, frame, and header. I fixed the starter and I still have it, but I couldn’t get back on. I finally gave up and bought the Stump Puller from Speedway. This works great for me, and I can always go back if I want to. I like the fact that this starter attacks the front of the flywheel and that it seems to turn the engine over faster. What I don’t like is that it is ugly, but you don’t see much of it until you look under the car.

[Shoebox]

Thanks guys for the comments and first hand reports. I expected some varying opinions.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Shoebox

As I continue to gather parts to build a flathead V8 for my 6 cylinder '51 Tudor, I come to the issue of a starter. I have several originals to chose from for rebuilding but I'd like to try a geared starter. For flatheads I believe the only offering is Powermaster, and I'm interested if anyone has used one, or any other brand. I forgot to mention the car is 12 volt. Thanks!

Geared starter, yes. I use them on all of my flathead Ford engines.
No on Powermaster for Ford flathead engines.
I use $50 SBC geared starters from ebay because I use SBC aluminum flywheels on all of my flathead Ford engines that use flywheels.
I have used geared starters of various brands and had no problems with any of them.