MTFCA Forum

What is the purpose of the little spring loaded pin inside the bendix drive GEAR and how important is it. I have included a link to a catalog photo of the part. THANKS !


https://www.modeltford.com/item/5021PS.aspx

That's to provide a controlled amount of friction. It is important.

Keeps the starter gear from randomly getting into the ring gear while the engine is running.
Craig.

It is called an "anti-drift" pin and holds the drive gear in its quiescent resting place so it does not vibrate back down the threads into the ring gear.
Ron Patterson

When the starter is powered up, the high torque of the motor forces the spring loaded pin upward out of the groove and allows the drive gear to screw down the drive sleeve, approach and engage the ring gear to turn the engine over to start. The ratio of the Bendix drive gear and ring gear is a ratio of 12 to 1. Hence the starter 12 foot pounds of is multiplied by 12 to apply 144 foot pounds of torque to the crankshaft for starting.
Ron Patterson.

Thank you!