The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 54 Chevy starter engagement problem

Anyone have any ideas why my starter bendix grinds when I try starting my engine? Not every time, just every so often. Then the times when it doesn't not make full contact, after 3 or 4 tries, then it engages.

The truck is a 1954 Chevy 3800 series with a 235 engine. It has been converted over to 12 votls (with 12 volt starter) and still has the original style foot shift bendix on the floor board.

Thinking that there might be some BAD teeth on the bendix or flywheel missing or rounded off. I removed the flywheel cover and looked at the flywheel completly 360 degress around for any signs of worn gear teeth, everything looks in excellent shape. Then took off the starter, again couldn't see anything wrong.

What could be causing this every so often?

Thanks,

John Niekamp

Mine started doing that after I had the starter off to paint it. I am thinking I might reinstall it. It must not be quite meshing.

mine does have worn teeth on ring gear, but also if you look at the fork in starter that engages the starter drive, mine has worn the forward part of the lugs that starter drive ring runs around. Not sure what to do yet, can't find another fork, turning them to a new forward face does not appear easy as does welding and grinding to fill flat spots. thought about allen head bolts to replace the worn parts but not sure how feasable that would be. any other input?

Theres a spiral on the shaft of the starter where the drive rides.. It allows the drive to mesh with the flywheel teeth sorta like a syncro. In your case the drive is spinning before it meshes with the flywheel teeth..So in other words it is moving too slow..Could be the spiral is gummed up or the drive is worn ??...I would take it apart and clean everything and replace the drive.. Check both bushings.A dragging armature might act this way.. Make sure the linkage from the foot pedal is not too worn or binding...

Theres a spiral on the shaft of the starter where the drive rides.. It allows the drive to mesh with the flywheel teeth sorta like a syncro. In your case the drive is spinning before it meshes with the flywheel teeth..So in other words it is moving too slow..Could be the spiral is gummed up or the drive is worn ??...I would take it apart and clean everything and replace the drive.. Check both bushings.A dragging armature might act this way.. Make sure the linkage from the foot pedal is not too worn or binding...

Iremeber my old man just flipped the fok around once on one of his, also make sure both gears have sharp points ^

Is the starter tight? Do the starter pinion teeth look good on the 'front end' where they slide in between the ring gear teeth. Thats what helps the mesh. Also, on the foot-mash starters, the starter shouldn't spin before the gears mesh, so check the linkage. As others have mentioned, worn armature bushings, worn starter bendix, and bendix fork can also cause problems. 6v to 12 volt rewound starters can also exhibit the engagement problems and excessive brush wear.

Does the engine have a 12 volt ring gear? The 6 volt ring gears had 139 teeth, the 12 volts have 168 teeth. So if you try to use a 12 volt starter on a 6V ring gear, it'll grind like crazy. In those cases tho, you usually see tooth damage.

good luck

chip

Could this be an overrunning clutch problem? The overrunning clutch drive pinion must be in proper relation to the solenoid switch. There is a way to adjust this, I remember the dimension is 3/16" pinion clearance. To adjust loosen solenoid switch screws and move switch forward or backward in the slotted holes to get the 3/16" clearance.

I had the same problem with my 235 it would engage about half the time then when I go to start the ol girl come to find out it was the plunger it's self all the connections inside were corroded away just my 2 cents

Trapperschevy.....Thanks for reminding me of that measurement...I think we used to call it "pinion gear timing..or "starter drive timing"...in relation to the solenoid...My 35 with a 53 235 12v and six volt starter doesn't mesh right all the time...The 12v is spinning the armature too fast before it meshes with the flywheel...I think I'll move the solenoid further away so it spins later...OH Magoo you've done it again !!....