MTFCA Forum

Gentlemen thank you ……you called that one …….the rear bolt on the Bendix was missing and it didn’t fall out when I took off the Bendix cover, so God knows where it is or if it was even ever put back……. The bendex spring was horribly bent, I wonder if it’s been starting a long time without that bolt in there….. So I’m gonna find me a new Bendix on one of the parts Internet sites, thanks again guys you made quick work out of that one!!

That missing bolt may resurface and haunt you....

Perhaps drain the oil and see if the bolt falls out - its the lowest part of the transmission and it may be there (or not but worth checking)

You can purchase a new spring, bolts and besure to install the keepers. The bendix may be ok.

Follow Adrian's suggestion, and loose metal can be hit by the flywheel and wreck your transmission and magneto..... Using a spring loaded long shaft with a magnet on the end may be alternative to locate bolt.

It would be worthwhile to make an effort to recover the lost bolt and any other unaccounted for hardware. It could easily cause catastrophic damage.

Thanks again folks…. I will drain the oil and shove a magnet up there in hopes that I can get the bolt……but I’m not overly worried due to the size.
At least not enough to tear everything apart to try to find it….. I remember one time I had to finally rebuild my 1959 Ford 861 diesel tractor and when I took that apart there were no less than three starter washers in the crank case!

If you still have a magneto in that car, the magnets can pick up a bolt and destroy the windings. Do you still have a magneto and does it work? I would suggest that you take the starter out by removing the 4 bolts and rotate the flywheel and inspect each magnet as it passes by the hole where the starter is mounted. If you don't find it that way, remove the inspection plate from the transmission and take a long spring mounted magnet and run it around the transmission and try to reach every part of the oil dip under the flywheel and the transmission.
The starter wouldn't have worked at all if the bolt had been out earlier. Also be sure that spring is for a Model T. The Model A spring looks just like it, however it is wound the opposite direction and would eventually get distorted and partially unwound if it was used on a T. This has happened before, so be sure it is correct.
Norm

Thanks Norm….. Great idea about checking the magnets