Starter spring

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Feb 19, 2015 | 07:49 PM

Tomc750

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Tuned

Joined: Dec 2001

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From: Greeneville TN USA

Starter spring

A starter motor I was checking out is missing the light spring around the shaft. This is from a 1952 truck motor. I assume it helps ensure the bendix disengages. so I checked another of the same vintage. Also missing the spring. So then I rounded up an older one (40's) from my parts collection. It has the spring. Is it possible Ford eliminated it? My parts manuals only go to 1948. Any help here?

Feb 19, 2015 | 11:57 PM

ALBUQ F-1

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From: NM

I can't recall seeing anything but the big spring on 8BA-era starter motors. But they would have been rebuilt a couple times by now. It does appear to show a spring in the Parts CD.

Feb 20, 2015 | 09:37 AM

Cougar54

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From: Milford, Michigan

Most of the older drives I have seen do not have the light spring you speak of. I have only seen it on some of the reproduction units I purchased. I assumed it was an improvement to the original but not a necessity. The spring sits between the front collar and the drive pinion and helps push the drive pinion back on disengagement.

Feb 20, 2015 | 10:26 AM

Tomc750

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Tuned

Joined: Dec 2001

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From: Greeneville TN USA

It would seem better to have the spring! Maybe I'll rob one out of another starter. Thanks for the input. Tom

Feb 20, 2015 | 01:31 PM

ALBUQ F-1

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From: NM

If the big spring doesn't pull it back, the little one sure won't

Feb 20, 2015 | 05:34 PM

EffieTrucker

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From: Kentucky

I'm with Ross, I don't remember ever seeing a smaller spring on the later Flat-8 engine.

Are you talking about the one in the first picture below? Mine (second picture) has the grooves that engage the rifling in the drive gear. There is no place for a spring there.

Granted, mine is a '53, but I don't think there is a difference in the starters from '49-'53.

Attached Images

Feb 20, 2015 | 06:56 PM

toby tough

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From: Clitherall, MN.

I have one of each and that little spring is pretty wimpy. Couldn't see it doing much good when the temps are low. Maybe in the warmer climes.

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Feb 20, 2015 | 09:13 PM

Jolly Roger Joe

Lead Driver

Joined: Jul 2011

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From: Rockingham, VA

Here's mine. It's a 51 with a 226 I6 Flathead. Wimpy spring...

Feb 20, 2015 | 09:18 PM

#10

Cougar54

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From: Milford, Michigan

I think the idea of the little spring is just to make sure the drive pinion doesn't slide back towards the flywheel after it disengages. It doesn't need to be strong for that. The faster motion of the flywheel after the engine starts and you de-energize the starter pushes the pinion back.

Feb 20, 2015 | 09:49 PM

#11

ALBUQ F-1

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From: NM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomc750

...What would keep the starter gear from coasting into the flywheel when going down a grade?
As to a previous poster's comment, the large spring is a shock absorber and has no ability to move the gear either direction.

You're right, I was thinking in terms of the bendix as a whole, not the pinion. I would guess the angle of the spiral threads is steep enough to keep the pinion from coasting into the flywheel. And as I recall, the starters are angled slightly down to the rear (look at the angle of the mounting surface).

Feb 21, 2015 | 12:49 AM

#12

EffieTrucker

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From: Kentucky

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomc750

What would keep the starter gear from coasting into the flywheel when going down a grade?

I don't have one apart to show you, but there is actually a very small spring loaded pin that catches the gear and holds it in place.

The starter in the picture is installed on the engine or I would pull the gear back and take a picture.

Feb 21, 2015 | 08:28 PM

#13

Tomc750

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Tuned

Joined: Dec 2001

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From: Greeneville TN USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by EffieTrucker

Effie, Yes, you are correct once again! I have been so consumed with this project I did not pay attention to certain details. I looked at the respective starters again and realized the helix on the shaft is toward the starter on the newer starter and toward the large spring on the older one. And yes, I know of the small pin. The bottom line is that the newer ones never had the light spring, it just took a bit of convincing.
I have been working on this stuff for over 50 years when I bought my first car in 1957 when I was 17. A '41 Mercury coupe that I wish I still had of course. Maybe I began to think I knew more than I did. By the way, the current project is a '52 8RT into a '49 8N tractor.

Thanks as well to ALBUQ F1 for his perspective with the level.