Farmall 130 starter drive

[EZ]

My starter spins but will not engage the flywheel. No broken teeth on flywheel.
Removed the armature and starter drive.
Looks good, see no problem. Nothing broken, key is good, spring and bolts are OK. Lots of voltage, good new #01 size cables.
This re-manufactured starter worked for about 15 starts, and then one day would not engage.

Was looking at getting a replacement drive assembly but see nothing wrong with this one for the time being.
Stumped.

 

[old]

Take a real good look at the flywheel ring gear and make sure it doesn't have rough teeth. Most engines when they shut down stop pretty much at the same place so those teeth in that area get hammered more then any others do. Put the starter back on then turn the engine say 45 degrees and see if it engages like it should start it up then shut it down and see if it give you problems again if ti does turn the engine again and if it works then you know where the problem is

 

[EZ]

(quoted from post at 08:21:25 05/04/16) Take a real good look at the flywheel ring gear and make sure it doesn't have rough teeth. Most engines when they shut down stop pretty much at the same place so those teeth in that area get hammered more then any others do. Put the starter back on then turn the engine say 45 degrees and see if it engages like it should start it up then shut it down and see if it give you problems again if ti does turn the engine again and if it works then you know where the problem is

This is the inside of the starter hole.

This is a view from the handhole.

No teeth broken. Some teeth look rough, there also seems to be a few shiny spots beyond, or deeper than the tooth area. I will try your suggestion and spin the flywheel to some fresh looking teeth, re-install the starter and give it a spin.

 

[teddy52food]

Does the gear spin out easily or is it stuck? I had one that jammed & stuck. I forgot what I did to make it right.

 

[Janicholson]

If the battery, cables, or starter cause the starter to turn slowly it will spin but not spiral out to engage the ring gear. I suspect this is the case. A starter is a
violent piece of equipment. If not violent it does not work. Jim

 

[EZ]

(quoted from post at 10:19:15 05/04/16) Does the gear spin out easily or is it stuck? I had one that jammed & stuck. I forgot what I did to make it right.

The pinion gear is not stuck. Spins well.

 

[khouse6]

i notice that you have starter removed from tractor. get jumper cables and bench test the starter. bendix gear should extend.

 

[glennster]

lay a straight edge across the starter opening on the bell housing and measure the distance to the edge of the ring gear teeth. then with the starter assembled, rotate the bendix till its fully extended and measure from the mounting boss to the extended end of the gear. see if there is any front to back play in the armature. could be there are not enough shims on the back side of the starter and the bendix is not moving out enough to engage the flywheel. you may have to move one or two (depending on whats there) from the nose of the starter to the back side by the brushes.

 

[gene bender]

You said it will not enguage does that mean starter runs but doesent turn engine if the starter runs but doesent turn engine Bendix must be bad you said it used to work but now doesent.

 

[EZ]

(quoted from post at 14:42:36 05/04/16) lay a straight edge across the starter opening on the bell housing and measure the distance to the edge of the ring gear teeth. then with the starter assembled, rotate the bendix till its fully extended and measure from the mounting boss to the extended end of the gear. see if there is any front to back play in the armature. could be there are not enough shims on the back side of the starter and the bendix is not moving out enough to engage the flywheel. you may have to move one or two (depending on whats there) from the nose of the starter to the back side by the brushes.

UPDATE.

Ok. So I put the starter back together. Looked up the clutch hand hole while buddy pulled the lever. I could clearly see the pinion gear shoot forward all the way. I could see the armature spline shaft spinning but the pinion gear was not moving at all. Soooooo if anything I have learned to observe a 'not working' starter drive through the handhole for a clue as to what might be wrong. In this case, a defective drive assembly. #*@~¥!
Wondering now what exactly is broken .....pinion gear, or armature spline shaft? No sign of broken material inside the starter. Oh well time to order a new drive assembly. Good thing they are not too pricey.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

So the pinion is just spinning freely on the shaft?

That's the second one of those I've heard about recently.

Might want to try one of the new "clutch" style starter drives. Apparently they are better than the old Bendix type.

 

[used red MN]

Okay in reply to your "update" and I hope I'm correct here it has been a while since I've had one
of those starters apart. The drive is defective. The pinion gear is driven by the armature (or
technically the shock spring turned by the rest of the starter drive assembly) through a sprag
clutch that should only lock in one direction to drive the gear to start the engine. Then when
started overruns so the starter is not spun over speed. Pull it off again and take you fingers or a
pliers and turn the pinion gear back and forth quickly. The gear should lock to the armature in one
direction and be free in the other. If it turns freely both ways you have double confirmed that it is
defective.