MTFCA Forum

I am going to install a new starter. How do I determine if my old bendix is OK?

The two attachment bolts of that go into the spring should be in a straight line

Two things can go wrong. The gear can come off the weight. The other is the teeth wear to lose their taper on the end. If those are good, it should work well. You should also check the spring that it is not bent out of shape.
Norm

Several things go wrong, break or ware out, Spring, then a common thing is the drive head cracks or breaks, the collar pin seem to disappear over time, the collar itself comes loose of the gear. Use new locking tab washers on the 2 bolts as well.

The two bolts in a straight line indicates that the bendix spring is in order. Over time, with extended use, they can wind up a bit and the two ears get out of line. I have pulled working bendix assemblies that have had well out of line mounting ears, and it does not seem to affect their serviceability. I do generally replace those springs though.

Allan from down under.

You can usually tell from a close visual inspection if they're okay. Post a bunch of detailed photos of it and we can be of more help to you.

Clean the Bendix very well, then as Jerry noted, check visual for the working condition. Look for cracks in the drive head, loose counter weight ring, torn thread holes in the shaft, and presence of the drift pin, etc.

Then if good, then oil with engine oil, and spin the gear by hand to have it run up and down the threaded shaft without sticking. Then of course use a new spring, and new fasteners, be sure the bolt heads are proper height or they will impinge on the inside of the Bendix cover.




The drift pin is very important to keep the Bendix gear out of the ring gear when the engine is running, vibrations can make the gear move toward the ring gear if the pressure exerted by the drift pin in the counter weight ring is compromised.