A little help please. I am nearing the point of trying to start my 3100. Wiring harness is in and I did my electrical testing of all non engine related electrics yesterday. And after a little twerking it all works. Big milestone. Today was to be testing the starter and see if the engine will spin without starting ( I disconnected the coil to distributor). The starter was professionally rebuilt. After connecting the 6v battery and stepping on the starter pedal, the starter spins to life but does not engage the flywheel. I try several times with the same result. What's up? Thanks for any help.
Sorry if I end up insulting you, but are you pushing the fork arm that engages the Bendix, or just pushing the power button? See in the attached photo a clear view of how the foot stomp pedal engages the starter.
Yeah, this is a real head scratcher because, if you have a "stomp starter" the starter gear is engaged with the flywheel "mechanically" by the lever on the starter pushing the gear forward on its shaft to engage the flywheel. The switch that sends voltage to the starter motor isn't "made" until the lever has moved forward to engage it and has by that time already engaged with the flywheel. Could you take a picture of your starter and post it so we can "see" what you have? Thanks.
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604 In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell." "They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel."
Greg, not insulted. The picture you posted is exactly what my starter set up looks like. When I depress the stomp starter foot pedal, the starter spins but does not engage the flywheel.
With the battery ground cable disconnected and the sheet metal lower flywheel cover removed, shine a bright light up into the bellhousing and watch as someone pushes the start pedal down. The teeth should be fully meshed into the flywheel before the linkage touches the switch. It's possible your "professional rebuilder" assembled something wrong. You can test the starter on the bench the same way- - - -the pinion gear should be pushed fully forward, almost touching the housing, before the switch makes contact. If the starter shaft is spinning with the teeth fully engaged, without turning the engine, you've got a bad starter drive- - - -"new" isn't always "good"! Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Jhyp - Ok, I got it. What Hot Rod said to do sounds like a great next step. Here's a picture that illustrates the starter system and can help visualize what happens when you depress the foot pedal.
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604 In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell." "They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel."
Yes, it would be nice to know what it took to get it working for I'm sure we'll have others chiming in with similar starter problems.
Craig
My '50 Chevy 3100 5 window, '62-235cu, 3:55 rear My truck ....... Respect The Rust If I'm not working on my truck, '65 m00stang or VW camper, I'm fishing with the wife or smoking Salmon.
Kind of embarrassed to say. Two things: first i thought the starter didn't work because when I depressed the stomp pedal nothing happened. So I depressed only the started switch button, by hand, and the starter spins but did not engage the flywheel. Thought there was a starter problem. Didn't remember, at the time, that the stomp pedal linkage engages the flywheel gear in the starter. Had to remove the starter before I realized my mistake. Put it all back together and depressed stomp pedal but got nothing. Same problem as when I started. Now on to the second issue. Figured out that the button on the starter switch did not have enough travel to engage the starter. So I put a spacer in the switch, reinstalled it and everything works now. Kind of a dumb mistake on my part.
A plastic screw top off a Coke bottle is just about exactly the right size and thickness to slip over the switch button and adjust the engagement point between the mechanical linkage and the "motor run" point. If you look at the pivot point holes and the rod that connects the pedal linkage to the starter bell crank, I'll bet you're going to find some wear and elongated holes that are wasting a little of the travel. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
