The armature shaft is only bent a little, but when I assemble the starter, it's enough to keep it from turning. Is there any way to straighten the shaft or is it time to figure out which recycle can to put it into? (or maybe my daughter can make a sculpture out of it)
I am going to be trying to straighten 1 myself soon. I think you need to have the aramture in a fixture to hold it still and make a jig that uses a bolt to tighten that would put pressure on the shaft with the bottom held in place to bend it over.I aint good at discribeing it but think of the old crankshaft straightening jigs in lawnmower shops and use that concept.there is bound to be a way to do it as the armature is exspensive to replace.
I have the same situation. I'd love to know what you are able to work out.
I straightened mind in my ancient South Bend lathe using the tool post to do the straigntening.
Stephan
Bent starter armature shafts are very common. As others have indicated they can be straightended. I use vee blocks and a dial indicator on my shop presss to find where it is bent and use the press accordingly.
They are almost always bent where there is a step in the shaft size which is outside the case.
If you have the Bendix stop nut inserted into the front plate babbited bushing AND the shaft will not turn is likely bent at the step.
If you DO NOT have the Bendix stop nut inserted in the babbited section of the front plate and the armature will not turn I suspect there is another problem. There are several culprits. The front plate may be bent. If you have replaced the bushings in the brushplate cap and the front plate and have not align reamed them (there two special tools required for this)you will very likely have the problem you are encountering and possibly some end play issues. If you need help send me an email or give me a call and I will coach you through this difficult area of starter rebuilding.
Ron the Coilman
859-881-1677
Shop press, lathe or any home-grown method will work. The process is the same. You'll need a dial indicator and a way to support the armature as well as bend the shaft. The best is by the shaft ends as you can't always rely on the center drillings unless they're clean.
As Ron says, the most likely area is at the junction of the small shaft and cut-down area before the bushing area. It takes a lot of side beating at that area.
Always remember to push the Spark Lever all the way up when you turn the Ignition Key to OFF and ensure it is still up when you turn the Ignition Key to ON and you may not have to ever straighten the starter shaft or replace a broken Bendix spring.
Jim
Driving a Model T is intuitive, but depends upon what year car.
If you carefully watch knowledgable drivers of early Model T cars (started on magneto) they will leave the spark lever down 2-3 notches, the key switch in the magneto position and the brake set when leaving the car. Then they can rejoin the vehicle and give the crank a 1/4 turn and it readily starts without prior adjustment. Many people see this and are amazed.
Knowledgable drivers of later Model T's always retard the spark lever when leaving the car because they will use the starter. My sense is to enter the car and check everything before starting.
Ken
It's funny, just about the time you think you've seen it all with Model T's you find something new.
I am in the midst of rebuilding six starters and doing the armature re-work today. I found one armature shaft with a distinct "S" curve in the smaller end of the shaft. You could actually see the "S" bend and I had never seen this before. I can only surmize it had been bent in one direction by a starter kick back and then bent in another direction by another kick back.
This armature need extra help.
Ron the Coilman