Need a new starter

[Babyboomerboy]

I need a new starter for my 1950 Ford Tudor. I notice that some of the starters for sale are without the drive bendix. Can I use the bendex from the old starter or should I get a starter with the drive included? Also any suggestions on the best place to get this starter? Thanks

[51504bat]

You can use the old Bendix. The new enclosed Bendix style can be difficult to install and may require grinding in order to get the starter to fit. Van Pelt Sales offers a USA made original style Bendix in addition to starters or they did last time I checked.

[19Fordy]

Babyboomerboy : If you can buy a new starter with the old style OEM Bendix. If not, you can reuse the old Bendix drive but save your old starter if it is working. That's what I did 2 years ago. Still works fine. I sent you a message.

[Tim Ayers]

Clean it up and use the old Bendix. Put a new spring on it before installing it since you have it out.

[Big Red 51]

Third Generation has good Bendix in stock, complete or just springs.
Don

[Babyboomerboy]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Does anyone know where I can get a new starter with OEM bendix, not the with the modern bendix that most of these starters have that are being sold?

[51504bat]

Assuming your still 6 volt? The early Ford Store lists a 6 volt unit but it has the new style Bendix. You might have to buy a starter with the new Bendix and replace it with an original one from 3rd Gen or Van Pelt's.

[cas3]

Why not just have your old starter rebuilt? Surely there is a rebuild shop around your area some where. I know there is one in Salina.

[51woodie]

Can it not be rebuilt? The starter on my '46 died this spring while I was doing my annual compression checks. The spare rebuilt starter I had was from a '51 8BA, which fit and works great. I'm fortunate to have an old school starter/gen/alt shop in my area where I dropped it off. The fellow called me to tell me that the starter had been rebuilt several times, as the commutator had been turned past the minimum diameter, and the new brushes would go too deep in the brush holders and would not sit square to the comm, and the spring pressure would be too low to prevent the brushes from contacting the comm properly. The owner tried to find a new comm but the ones he could find didn't have the keyway and the hole at the end of the shaft for the bendix.
As a result, I hit a few swap meets and picked up two starters with original bendix drives. I took them to the shop, and he built two good starters form the original one I brought, and the two I got at the swap meets. I noted that the bendix gear retaining nut had dates stamped on it, that listed a bunch of years for which they would be compatible.