OK, so a "search" revealed several posts/threads on tricks to get the starter back IN. How about getting the @#^$%!! thing OUT? Sheesh, my son is flying up this weekend to take his 1961 Galaxie out of storage and drive it from RI to NC. Well, I took it out of storage and when I was showing it to a mechanic friend of mine he casually mentioned "sounds like your bendix is going out." I figured I'd fix that for my son. How hard can it be? I've changed dozens of starters in my life, oughta take about 20 minutes. Weil.... I've exhausted my knowledge of swear words and the starter is still dangling. It seems to me that the bendix is fully out and the starter body is hitting the cross member and there isn't enough room. I see in some of the old posts that Ted suggested turning the wheels all the way to one side. So, I'll try that in the morning and I'll jack up the other side of the car too to let the suspension/wheels hang. Any other tips? I read one post where somebody changed the bendix while it was still in the car but I didn't understand how to do that. I've got to get this back together by Sunday. Hopefully.



Thanks.



Seth

You say that every now and then the starter just whirs and the next time it engages. This suggests that the bendix is not fully extended and not retracting but may just be lacking a little lubrication.

You could use spray lithium grease on the bendix and the shaft which may help to alleviate your problem. You could do this without removing it fully from the car.

It could also have something to do with your wiring to the starter. Make sure all the connections are clean and tight and that the battery is fully charged. These starters really on the strength of the starter spinning to throw the bendix out fully. They give a lot less trouble than the rat trap Ford starters.

Regards


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