Super A starter not engaging?

[Cue P.]

Hope everyone had a good Christmas! My 1953 Super A starter has been giving me trouble off and on where it seems to bind up. Usually if i loosen the mounting bolts it loosens something and turns again. This time all i get is a "whirrrring" noise but it is not engaging the engine. i can spin the engine with the crank but no luck with starter. What is going on and why is it failing to engage? Is there something i can do to fix easily or is this a remove and send for a rebuild type of issue?? Thanks for any input!

 

[JRamsey]

Could be the bendix drive needs oil on the shaft or, it could be so bad that the drive needs replaced. It would still need lubrication either way and should work. Usually if the bendix drive is really dry on the grooved shaft it will tend to not retract especially if the battery is low and just engages the flywheel and grunts so to speak. I usually have to take the time to take the starter off and then pour a little oil on the groove that the bendix travels in and then remount to the tractor, then it will work.

 

[snoop-nc]

JRamsey...I've done the same thing only using a bit of Antisieze "grease" (for lack of better word!!). Antisieze -brushed on the shaft in light coat- seems to stay longer and not sling off.

Rick

 

[Cue P.]

What should i expect when removing the starter? The I&C manual does not cover the starter. Do i have to worry about any timing of the gears or anything unexpectedly falling out or is it all pretty well self contained? Thanks again for your help!

 

[gene bender]

Remove the starter then replace the Bendix have the starters brushes replaced bearings lubed then clean ALL terminals. With the starter out now would be a good time to inspect the teeth on the flywheel looking in the starter hole and turning the engine over using a small prybar turning over till yiou have seen all the teeth. Now when you put it back it should and will perform like new providing the battery is any good. Tractor is 50 pluss old and its high time to get the starter up to snuff.

 

[couv]

had my 100 starter rebuilt 2 months ago --- $ 159.00, could have bought a new one for $ 120.00.

Do suggest you ask the rebuilder about costs.

 

[riverbend]

Remove the ground cable from the battery, then the cable from that starter. Be careful not to turn the cable stud on the starter when removing the cable.

Unbolt the starter and that's it. It is self contained and there is no timing associated with the starter.

Greg

 

[tractorsam]

I'm actually about to suggest something that goes against what a couple of the others have been saying. Clean up the bendix drive, but do not oil it. If you use any lube use a dry lubricant (like graphite). The reason for this is that all of the crap that gets flung around in the bell housing (and there's usually quite a lot if you ever split one of these) will stick to an oiled drive and it will bind up sooner. If it's good and clean it should work fine, provided everything else mentioned is in good shape. I'm not saying that anyone else is wrong, I just do things a little differently and it works for me. Sam

 

[Cue P.]

Thanks for all your suggestions! I forgot to mention that the battery checked out fine. I'll tackle removing the starter as soon as it warms up a few degrees in the garage! Thanks again and Happy New Year.

 

[willie in mn]

tractorsam
I agree. Clean and dry. Has been my experience that any lube on the shaft put there by someone else just collects crud that has to be removed later, sometimes sooner,especially when the weather gets cold.
Willie

 

[tractorsam]

The first few I played with I oiled them and found it worked very well at first but rapidly got worse again. Since then I've stuck by clean and dry. Sam

 

[simpsonc9]

I had the same problem with the starter on my AV, the starter would just whrrrr and not engage but it has been sitting for 20 some years. Check this thread for the story and pics before and after I had it rebuilt.

http://ytforums.ytmag.com/viewtopic...p;postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=

 

[Cue P.]

Thanks for the link! Those pics will be very helpful.

 

[pete 23]

You may have a broken bendix spring also. Far as lube, no heavy oil but something like Break Free or Tri Flo would be great. Works very well in cold weather on firearms and doesn't gunk up.

 

[Janicholson]

There is a new style starter drive that is a must for replacement. It is different looking, but works far more reliably. Make sure the one you buy is the new type. JimN