Don't get me started/starter woes
Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2019 10:10 pm
I rebuilt the starter, new field coil/brushes, front/rear bushing. The bendix assembly/spring is newer (about a year old but only used for about a month) w/no issues and worked flawlessly before the starter rebuild. I installed the rebuilt starter and it would spin w/o the bendix engaging. I took the bendix cover off, took the bendix off and inspected it. Everything checked OK and the bendix slides onto the shaft easily and turns freely in the mounting bracket bushing. I re-installed the bendix w/the cover off and watched it and same thing, the starter shaft spins but the bendix does not engage. I then took my finger and spun the gear that spins forward to engage the flywheel and moved it closer to the flywheel. I then attempted to start the motor and the gear spun and engaged the flywheel ring gear and stopped as if the starter did not have enough torque to rotate the engine. I back it out from the flywheel, tried to start the engine once again and no bendix again, just spinning. Even though this is still a 6 volt system, I tried a 12 volt battery at two quick intervals to see if it would turn the engine over. It barley turned the engine over and only if I manually moved the bendix gear forward a little. Being cold out I thought maybe oil was too cold (5W-30) so I took a heat lamp and placed it under the engine for a couple hours and also jacked up the rear wheels off the ground. Still the same results. The engine hasn't been started in a year and a half, so then I thought it might be sticking clutch plates. It wouldn't start by crank although it sure did kick back multiple times and seemed very stiff and is why I suspected the plates. I decided to tow start it and it started up. I let it warm up for apprx 5 min. I tinkered w/timing and cab adjustment and it stalled. I tried the starter again and it just spun again w/o the bendix engaging. I could not try the tow start again due to a mechanical issue of the tow vehicle ("when it rains, it pours"). Never had these issues prior to rebuild. I was thinking the about the pole distance and it was right at 2.83. If too close to the armature, would this cause low torque? Sorry for being so long in details but figure it might help solve what is going on. UUUUGGGHHHH! Any advice/help is much needed and definitely appreciated. I have a parade coming up at the end of Nov and trying to get this resolved before the snow starts blowing.