MTFCA Forum

I am trying to install the starter bendix, and I am having difficulty getting the shaft key in and the end piece over it. Any suggestions how to accomplish this would be appreciated.

My only suggestion, is make sure the keyway in the shaft is pointed up and just work at it. Sometimes they can be a bit of a bugger to get lined up.

You might also want to go to your local hardware store and see if you can find a different key for the slot. Sometimes newer keys are a very poor fit in the slot in the starter shaft. (I assume a lot of the modern keys are made in China and may be off a little.) Sometimes you can slide them back and forth on the face of a flat file, and trial fit them so they are just barely a push fit in the keyway.

My key would slip out as I slid the end piece over it. A dab of grease in the key slot held it enough to finally get everything installed.

My experience is that the Bendix keys supplied for the last several years do NOT go in the keyway right out of the bag--just a smidgeon too wide (or a corner burr) and a very quick flat dressing on both sides with 800 paper will produce a 'size to size' drop in where it still does take finger pressure to seat.

I also do the grease trick, more matter-of-fact than anything else, simply because do it on all keys.

I also do tilt the key, ever so slightly, as a lead and allow the fit to drag it back to horizontal position as it all seats.

For what it is worth...

Good luck.

Hi Bruce,
Try to fit the key in the 5019, had one a while back that was not wide enough on the end to fit the width of the key and kept pushing
the key out same as you experienced. May have had a burr in it?? I grabbed an other one from stock that fit fine. Saved the one for
someday when I din'thave a new key to install.
Craig.

I've had an issue with this in the past. Be sure there is not a burr on either the key or the slot in the shaft. either one can stop you cold.

We got it on, just kept trying and got it done!!!!