The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Starter drive gear/bendix

I have a 6 volt Delco Remy starter (model # 1107108) on my 52 chevy truck w/ the 216 engine. I recently had the starter rebuilt & it seems the drive gear does not mesh with the flywheel. Can anyone tell me how many teeth should be on the drive gear? Mine has 9? Thanks. Bob

I have a #1107055 starter w/9 teeth and my flywheel has 139 teeth. Don't know if that helps. Do you have the old drive gear? Strange that it won't mesh now if it was OK before the rebuild.

Thanks Ed, that helps a lot. I'm beginning to wonder if the starter is not the problem, but purhaps my engine locked up (but that doesn't make sense either, cause it was drivable just a couple months back). Bob

Bob,

Wait to see if someone who knows about the 6v vs 12v "drive gear". I dimly recall postings about both having 9 "teeth" but they are different.

1938-55 starter drive

1955-59 starter drive

Maybe ask the rebuilder what year starter drive he put in the starter?

The armature shaft diameter is bigger on the 6 volt starter, isn't it? I don't think a 12 volt starter drive will fit a 6 volt armature, even with a can of grease and a BFH!
Jerry

Thanks everyone. In my mind it's now official - I have the correct bendix, w/ 9 teeth (Tim, the pictures were helpful). So, I'm off to find what else is the problem (ring gear? babbitt bearings? oil pump? crappy truck that I should get rid of?). Bob

How about a few more details about the problem? Is the starter turning but not spinning the engine, or is the starter drive engaging and the flywheel refusing to turn? How about putting the transmission in high gear, and see if the engine turns when you push the truck? If not, something's locked up- - - -maybe a cylinder full of water or gasoline?
Jerry

I had a problem with my starter bendix as well. Its a 6 volt starter, and a 12 volt system. It only takes a second to spin up the engine and starts right away. My problem was the snap ring on the armature had worn and came off. I had replaced it but it wasnt the exact type and when the bendix engaged it forced the cheapy snap ring off, again allowing the bendix to slide too far and it hung in the engaged position. So had to remove the starter again and found the right snap ring. Works fine now.

Billy

In my search for a new starter drive, FLAPS had a couple that were supposed to fit. They looked similar except the 9 tooth gear was smaller in diameter and I think they fit the pitch of the 12 volt flywheel.

This was a confusing issue 50 years ago. My junk yard dog way of figuring out the difference the shaft on a 6 volt was more than 1/2" and a 12 volt less than 1/2". Both have 9 teeth. Not many numbers to remember that way.