Starter for 1953 Flathead
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Joined: Nov 2002
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Starter for 1953 Flathead
Hello again!
The truck has been painted, the interior and wiring have been revitalized, and the Flathead is back in its cradle. It is now time to turn her over! Oops... starter doesnt work. First problem was that the engine wouldnt spin. The drive was engaging, but it wasnt spinning. Okay, so I took the plugs out to see what I got that way. Then the starter wont engage... just spins. I took out the starter, and took apart the starter drive. It was a little gunky, so I cleaned it out and put a light coat of grease on it to get it to move freely. I also pulled the starter itself apart to check for anything out of the ordinary. Nope.
Reinstalled. The starter caught, and turned the engine, but not fast at all. I installed the plugs and tried it again... no more worky. I then turned the engine by hand, and the drive kicked out and now it wont engage again. I took the whole thing out, fastened it in a vice, and applied power. She spins, but the bendix doesnt move... at all. I dunno if there is something missing or what. I didnt take it apart during the engine rebuild... just painted the case and reinstalled.
6 volt system. New battery. No clue what is wrong. My only guess is that it doesnt have the power to kick the bendix out to engage. Is there a spring or something that should be there? Help?
The truck has been painted, the interior and wiring have been revitalized, and the Flathead is back in its cradle. It is now time to turn her over! Oops... starter doesnt work. First problem was that the engine wouldnt spin. The drive was engaging, but it wasnt spinning. Okay, so I took the plugs out to see what I got that way. Then the starter wont engage... just spins. I took out the starter, and took apart the starter drive. It was a little gunky, so I cleaned it out and put a light coat of grease on it to get it to move freely. I also pulled the starter itself apart to check for anything out of the ordinary. Nope.
Reinstalled. The starter caught, and turned the engine, but not fast at all. I installed the plugs and tried it again... no more worky. I then turned the engine by hand, and the drive kicked out and now it wont engage again. I took the whole thing out, fastened it in a vice, and applied power. She spins, but the bendix doesnt move... at all. I dunno if there is something missing or what. I didnt take it apart during the engine rebuild... just painted the case and reinstalled.
6 volt system. New battery. No clue what is wrong. My only guess is that it doesnt have the power to kick the bendix out to engage. Is there a spring or something that should be there? Help?
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,779
Likes: 556
From: Kalispell, MT
Starter for 1953 Flathead
Canted, I replied on BillB's msn forum, but it looks like the info might do some good here too.
Make sure all your electrical connections are tight. That pretty paint can keep the juice from flowing - scrape it off all the contacts.
The flathead starter mounts to the bellhousing and the length of the shaft puts the bendix behind the flywheel - just the opposite of more modern engines. When you hit the button the bendix gear is pulled into the ring gear from behind and releases when the motor spins it back out or you take your finger off the button. The spring acts as a shock absorber and is the link between the shaft and the bendix. If the spring breaks the bendix can't engage.
You can check the starter when it is out of the truck by attaching it directly to a battery with heavy duty jumper cables. Hook them to the power stud and the case of the starter. Connect one to a battery post - polarity doesn't matter as it works with both pos and neg ground. Secure the starter (it will move around) and firmly touch the remaining cable to the open battery post. Take all necessary safety precautions of course.
Make sure all your electrical connections are tight. That pretty paint can keep the juice from flowing - scrape it off all the contacts.
The flathead starter mounts to the bellhousing and the length of the shaft puts the bendix behind the flywheel - just the opposite of more modern engines. When you hit the button the bendix gear is pulled into the ring gear from behind and releases when the motor spins it back out or you take your finger off the button. The spring acts as a shock absorber and is the link between the shaft and the bendix. If the spring breaks the bendix can't engage.
You can check the starter when it is out of the truck by attaching it directly to a battery with heavy duty jumper cables. Hook them to the power stud and the case of the starter. Connect one to a battery post - polarity doesn't matter as it works with both pos and neg ground. Secure the starter (it will move around) and firmly touch the remaining cable to the open battery post. Take all necessary safety precautions of course.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 19
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Starter for 1953 Flathead
Evidently a pair of brushed got crooked in there and messed up. The local rebuild shop cleaned it out, replaced broshes, turned the com, and installed a new drive. I have a good feeling about this 
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