I was with a friend yesterday and he showed me a starter ring that had 4 countersunk holes, located 90 degrees to each other, exactly where the mounting screws were. There was a spool or spacer at each of the four holes that slid into the countersunk portion of the ring, with standard screws passing through the spacer. I wish I had taken a picture.I have never seen this before and wonder if anyone else had? Can anyone explain why this was done? It appeared to be a factory installation as the quality was extremely good and when the ring was removed from the flywheel, the fit was very tight.
And the assembly would not go together without the proper alignment of the pins.
The flywheel you saw was a 1919 version. I was the early design and I believe it was only used on the 1919 engines. I have found them on engines that still had block off plates. Those never had a starter and the gear was "NOS".
According to the Parts Listings,
Flywheel (Ring gear style)
T-3269G
Factory # 1901 Engineering release April '19
and then next Factory # is changed to 701C on July '19, and afterwards T-3269G used the Factory # 701C.
So that early '19 flywheel appears to have been used only a few months.
When initially produced the ring gear flywheel did have alignment spools in preparation for engines with starters in late 1919. This is the only year they were used. I have found them with NOS ring gears as the starter was never installed. The electric starter was an option that some would not pay the money to go first class.
1919? Okay, thank you Jack! I have wondered about that for many years, but since the internet, never thought to ask. Yes, I have and therefore have seen one. Also a near perfect gear.
I love this forum! Thank you to all that contribute in positive ways.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Including those that ask good questions!
1n 1924 a touring cost $290, a starter, generator and demountable wheels cost an additional $90, nearly one third the cost of a car. Some folks were doing good just to be able to buy the car.
The practice hasn't changed. Go in someday and ask for the bare bones stripped down model of any new car, and you will probably be put on a waiting list. The ones at the dealership were loaded. Same was true of the Model T. That's why you don't see many of the later ones with no starter.
Norm