hi all,

now that the motor is turning over by hand, next stop is to get her turning over on the key.

I have the starter motor off the car at the moment, and it looks like this:-

now, as it's my first Y, that starter doesn't look right to me. I gather that, when the key is turned, the bendix is pulled into mesh with the starter ring gear. But it doen't look like it has enough travel?

I've tried it against a battery and it spins over just fine, but the bendix doesn't seem to travel far enough (I would expect the bendix to at least travcel the thickness of the starter ring gear?)

or is it fine, and I should stop being an ass and worrying about it!!

Cheers, Taff

1959 Ford Galaxie 2dr sedan, 292 (just woken up after a 38 year sleep!)

the bendix is already extended, I think you will have to remove it and rewind it, if you have never done it before, get some help.

tom in iowa

54 Merc wagon

54 sunvalley

Not knowing what your application is, I'll say that you may be able to work the starter into place with the bendix in that extended position. Some will and some probably will not install that way. A truck will. Some cars are a real PIA even with the bendix retracted. Installation takes a bit of effort and holding your mouth the right way while saying soothing words. Of course, the bendix will retract when the engine starts. Do not force anything. Good luck

ray

That bendix has overridden the ratchet - a not uncommon occurrence. It will not work that way or last long as the bendix will remain in contact with the ring gear. Be careful when you pull it apart. There are a couple of little springs which hold the collars that run on the shaft. They may go flying. To remove the bendix push down on the top washer and you will see a 1/4" pin going through the shaft, push it through and VOILA. There is then a circlip which needs to be prised out and it will then fall apart in your hand. This is from memory - oldtimers!!

Not a hard job to fix and it probably won't happen again. My starter did this 20 years ago and it has never happened again.

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

You can hold the the gear teeth against a spinning wire buffing wheel and it will reset itself, works for me!

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

X2 for me.

Dan      Kingman Az.      86409

Bill’s solution with the wire wheel is the common fix for the ‘engaged’ bendix scenario.

Here’s a past thread that reiterates basically the same.

Restoring the bendix to the non-engaged position

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

you've got to love the internet, don't you? I'm 42 (actually my birthday today) and had dozens of cars in bits over the years but never a 292 Y block. I didn;t think that starter looked right, and it isn't.

i don't have a bench mounted wire wheel, so I'll fit my brush onto an angle grinder and try that.

Thanks all, hope to get her turning over on the key next weekend now!!

Cheers, Taff

1959 Ford Galaxie 2dr sedan, 292 (just woken up after a 38 year sleep!)

I got rid of the stock starter and went with a mini high torque one. Much better.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

It never ceases to amaze me, the little tricks people have. I come from an electrical fitting background and have always fixed something if it is broken. It isn't that hard to remove the bendix, so that is what I have always done, but I will try this trick the next time I pick up up a overextended bendix.

Thanks

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!