50 starter question

[Rich'sToys]

Just had the starter rebuilt for one of my 50's. Now when I step on the button, a lot of times it will just grind instead of engaging. May take several tries before it engages properly.

What I THINK is happening is--when you step on the button, it manually engages the drive into the flywheel while pushing the switch button at the same time. I suspect it's hitting the switch before the drive gear is fully engaged, causing it to grind against the ring gear.

I haven't pulled the starter back out yet, as it's a bear of a job for a 75 year old guy, but just wondering if there's some kind of adjustment or something, or is this something I'll have to live with? I was looking it over before I put it in, just to see how it works, but didn't notice anything that looked like an adjustment. Any thoughts?

 

[ET]

Did they replace the starter bendix during the rebuild? It sounds like the overrunning clutch is slipping.

 

[JOCCO]

Not sure on 50 but on late b the rod that goes to switch is adjustable. I have had issues with switches being touchy.

 

[Loosehandle]

Just had the starter rebuilt for one of my 50's. Now when I step on the button, a lot of times it will just grind instead of engaging. May take several tries before it engages properly.

What I THINK is happening is--when you step on the button, it manually engages the drive into the flywheel while pushing the switch button at the same time. I suspect it's hitting the switch before the drive gear is fully engaged, causing it to grind against the ring gear.

I haven't pulled the starter back out yet, as it's a bear of a job for a 75 year old guy, but just wondering if there's some kind of adjustment or something, or is this something I'll have to live with? I was looking it over before I put it in, just to see how it works, but didn't notice anything that looked like an adjustment. Any thoughts?

Try jiggling the mechanism with your foot before stomping on it fully

 

[Randy G.]

Just had the starter rebuilt for one of my 50's. Now when I step on the button, a lot of times it will just grind instead of engaging. May take several tries before it engages properly.

What I THINK is happening is--when you step on the button, it manually engages the drive into the flywheel while pushing the switch button at the same time. I suspect it's hitting the switch before the drive gear is fully engaged, causing it to grind against the ring gear.

I haven't pulled the starter back out yet, as it's a bear of a job for a 75 year old guy, but just wondering if there's some kind of adjustment or something, or is this something I'll have to live with? I was looking it over before I put it in, just to see how it works, but didn't notice anything that looked like an adjustment. Any thoughts?

The starter may be engaging before the drive is fully extended into the ring gear, as you suspect. Best to bench test it checking how far the drive extends. It should extend all the way to the end of the starters nose before spinning. .

 

[Pete in MD]

Just had the starter rebuilt for one of my 50's. Now when I step on the button, a lot of times it will just grind instead of engaging. May take several tries before it engages properly.

What I THINK is happening is--when you step on the button, it manually engages the drive into the flywheel while pushing the switch button at the same time. I suspect it's hitting the switch before the drive gear is fully engaged, causing it to grind against the ring gear.

I haven't pulled the starter back out yet, as it's a bear of a job for a 75 year old guy, but just wondering if there's some kind of adjustment or something, or is this something I'll have to live with? I was looking it over before I put it in, just to see how it works, but didn't notice anything that looked like an adjustment. Any thoughts?

Have you been in touch with the outfit that rebuilt the starter? What did they say?

 

[Rich'sToys]

I talked to him today. He said that when he rebuilt it, he noticed that it was not the original starter, but apparently a reman unit that had been installed at some point. He also said that it appeared to have been altered slightly in a couple areas. He agreed that the switch is apparently engaging before the drive is fully engaged into the flywheel, and recommended grinding a tiny bit off the lever that pushes the switch button, thereby allowing the drive to fully engage before it hits the switch. Depending on how long the weather stays nice, I may try that yet this fall; otherwise it will wait till spring.

The new switch must be slightly different than the old one, as it never did this before when it was working.