A little help please.

[Reelnative]

Had a bad day! Drove my Model A to a local monthly car show with a friend if mine. I dropped him off and when I went to start it I just heard the starter motor spin and not grab the flywheel. Got it home and removed the starter and this is what I saw, the bolt on the spring came out along with what ever hardware there was, luckily I trailered it home so hopefully the bolt is at the bottom of the bell housing. Any tips on how to get them out? I would rather not pull the transmission or motor if I didn’t have to.
Any help would be appreciated.

I can’t get the picture to load but it’s one of the 2 bolts on the spring on the bendex.

[Conaway2]

Originally Posted by Reelnative

Had a bad day! Drove my Model A to a local monthly car show with a friend if mine. I dropped him off and when I went to start it I just heard the starter motor spin and not grab the flywheel. Got it home and removed the starter and this is what I saw, the bolt on the spring came out along with what ever hardware there was, luckily I trailered it home so hopefully the bolt is at the bottom of the bell housing. Any tips on how to get them out? I would rather not pull the transmission or motor if I didn’t have to.
Any help would be appreciated.

I can’t get the picture to load but it’s one of the 2 bolts on the spring on the bendex.

There are a couple of things to try:
1. With the starter removed, put a big glob of grease on the teeth on the ring gear and crank the engine over once with the crank and see if the bolt sticks to the grease.

2. Get an extendable magnet and try fishing down the starter hole, as well as the pressure plate inspection window - under the upper floorboard.

Patience helps a lot ! Removing the engine is not usually necessary.

Good luck !
Jim

[GPierce]

Go the upper right side of the red stripe SEARCH THIS FORUM box. Type in STARTER bolt an lots of information pops up.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...t=Starter+bolt

[Dick Carne]

You might also be able to take the front wishbone loose and "feel around" on the inside against the flywheel. A magnet might help as well. Good luck.

[Bill G]

It's happened to a lot of us. Replacement bolts and special washers are readadily available from the vendors, and fortunately, fixing the Bendix is pretty easy. I fished mine out with a small magnet (not a strong magnet) affixed so something long and pliable so you can fish down through the starter hole down to the bottom of the flywheel housing. You really want to get it out of there so it doesn't do any damage from there.

[Y-Blockhead]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Originally Posted by Bill G

It's happened to a lot of us. Replacement bolts and special washers are readadily available from the vendors, and fortunately, fixing the Bendix is pretty easy.

Why bother fixing the old one? I have never experienced any problems with a modern replacement starter drive. https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=976183&cat=41746

[nkaminar]

I also switched over to the modern Bendix drives. A word of warning though: There are different quality modern drives available. I had to buy a couple to find one that I thought was good quality.

[eagle]

As others have said, use a magnet. Harbor Freight has one on an extendable rod. Not as difficult as you might think, just takes some patience.

[ndnchf]

I've read, but cannot confirm that at least some of the modern bendix drives do not fully engage the ring gear. Something like 50% contact. Shimming may be required to get full engagement. Maybe this was earlier versions and correctly designed ones are now available, but I don't know. Do your research before buying.....

This concerned me. So I got a USA made standard bendix and made sure the bolt locking tabs were fully seated. I've never had one come loose.

[Bob Bidonde]

This solution is the way to go!