Broken starter

[Lance J.]

Hey guys, more starter woes on my '55 TO35. I was going to use it yesterday, when I turned the key to start I heard a slight groaning noise then just click, click, click. I found that the engine would not turn in the clockwise direction but would turn counterclockwise. I removed the starter and found that half the teeth on the starter drive are cleanly sheared off and most of the nosecone is broken off. The broken nosecone was catching on the flywheel preventing the engine from turning.

I removed the pieces of the starter from the starter recess in the bellhousing and fortunately the engine turns freely. I don't see any obvious damage to the flywheel or anything else. This starter has only been on the tractor since May. I wonder what caused it to fail like that? None of the bolts were loose, there were never any starter shims on the tractor, either with this new starter or the old one. Hopefully the electrical shop will repair or replace my starter no problem. Any suggestions as to what I should check or do differently?

 

[JerryMT]

There should be a thrust washer on the shaft in front of the drive gear where the shaft goes through the bushing in the nose. Many rebuilders leave them out and I don't understand why. It certainly can't be cost!

Also, a 6V starter run on a 12 volt system has higher loads on on it. The combination of leaving out the thrust washer and running a 6V at 12 V maybe the cause of some of these failures.

Having said that, I have a 6 V starter running at 12V with a thrust washer on it and I have been running it since 1994 and it was that way when I got it. The guy I bought it from did the 12V conversion and told me it was a 6 V starter and it looks original. I have not had any problems with it. When you get yours rebuilt, make sure that the thrust washer is on it. The Ferguson part number for the TO-30 starter is
1 750 440 M1 - Washer, Thust, Drive End. There is also a commutator thrust washer. YOu have a TO-35 but I doubt if its any different. I think they use the same Delco-Remy starter.

 

[steveormary]

Also too,you must have the timing spot on. Set by the book. works best with two people.

Had nose cone break twice on my TO30. Shimed starter out and set timming and had no problem since.

stevveormary

 

[Lance J.]

Thanks alot. Yes, there was a washer between the pinion and the nose cone, I found it with the broken nose cone. The nose cone has a v-shaped crack where it joins to the starter. The break is so clean I'm thinking it may have been a bad casting to begin with. Perhaps when it cracked it caused the pinion to bind on the flywheel breaking the teeth.

 

[RockyMo]

Could you give me more details on shimming out the starter please? I have one that broke the nose cone as well. No shims on the original starter and it lasted several years, new starter only a half dozen starts. I would like to correct the problem if one exists before installing the new starter. Thanks,

Rocky in MO

 

[steveormary]

Rocky;

All I did was cut some peices from a pop can and made shims from that. The ring gear looked OK but it was wore some where the bendix gear ad hit it.

steveormary

 

[RockyMo]

Did you make a continuous shim that went all the way around the starter sort of like a gasket would fit around or did you just shim between the bolts and mounting point such as a washer around the bolt would do? The latter would leave a gap for water to enter but would be a much easier thing to do. I suspect there would not be as much support on the mount that way either but am unsure of the amount you have shimmed or why the shims are neccessary if the original starter did not have any. Thanks for any and all information.

Rocky in MO

 

[steveormary]

Rocky;

I just cut the individual shims for each bolt.
Whatever,it worked that way.

I am now retired and have moved off the farm. Couldnt take the Fergie with me.

Be careful.
steveormary