OK- - - -here's the Paul Harvey "rest of the story". I just removed a known 6V starter from a 54 Chevy 235 that I've had on hand for several years. it had the original "black label" starter on it, part number 1107108. Several web searches confirmed that it is, indeed, a 6V truck engine starter with a foot-pedal engagement. It seems that a lot of us, myself included, have beem dispensing well-intentioned, but erroneous information. The "shaft" ahead of the gear drive IS NOT 5/8" diameter- - - -it's a few thousandths under 9/16"- - - -0.559-0.560" by my measurement with a dial caliper. The ID of the bushing in the nose cone where the shaft rides is slightly over 1/2", meaning that what's being measured ahead of the gear is actually a sleeve the pinion gear is riding on- - - -not the actual shaft! I'm going to dismantle and rebuild this starter to confirm the other rumor- - - -that 6V and 12V starters have different-shaped drive lugs that engage the gear drive. Supposedly, the 6V lugs are straight, while the 12V ones are angled to give the gear drive a slight rotation as it engages to minimize gear clashing. I'll post some pics as soon as I can find them on my hard drive- - - - -they disappeared!
Jerry
