Hello,

Getting ready to reinstall my starter in my 51 Flathead V8 tonight and I had a question.

When I go to install this starter...

Does the gear on the starter that engages the flywheel get screwed down closest to the starter or unscrewed closest to the spring assembly?

Thanks!!!

 

The bendix would normally be installed in the retracted position. When the starter spins the gear runs forward, into mesh with the flywheel gear. When the engine starts the flywheel spins the starter gear and the gear retracts on the bendix shaft.

 

Ok, so the gear is closest to the starter at install? Thanks!

Only reason I thought it may be the other way is because on the end of the starter gear is a round part that is part of the gear but is a little bigger than the gear. I thought this may hit the flywheel when it was trying to engage.

 

You are wrong that the bendix gear is installed close to the starter motor. That would be the engaged position, engaged with the flywheel gear. If you can get it installed that way the bendix will retract when the engine starts. The normal install position is the gear away from the starter motor, the retracted position.

You may want to search for "starter installation" or "bendix restore." Some applications are impossible to install the starter in the engaged with the flywheel position and must be restored, a whole different subject about which much has been written.

 

Thanks for clarifying, It makes sense now. I am used to replacing modern day starters where the gear pushes forward away from the starter to engage the flywheel then retracts back inside the starter away from the flywheel.

This system seems to be the opposite, gear starts away from the starter then as it engages comes toward the starter, engages the flywheel, then goes back away from the starter. I guess that also makes sense what the little dust shield cap does, covers the gear and spring mechanism