Bendix gear sticking on starter?
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 55
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From: Houston Texas
Bendix gear sticking on starter?
So, had my last starter fail on my 1973 stingray. Stock 350/350. I purchased starter for Orielys for a 1998 chevy small block 350 under the impression that I should not have any issues and it is more less a mini starter for this motor. At first it worked perfect, zero flaws.....then it started not to work. I assumed this would happen due to it being a Sunday and I could not get to a dearlership to get the correct bolts (starter bolts) so I just used what I had.
Now, I have put the correct bolts in and still the same issue. When I turn the key, the bendix gear comes out.....high pitch wine like the starter is spinning, but not the motor. Crawl under the car and the gear is still stuck to the starter.
I have tried shimming with no luck. Any suggestions?
Now, I have put the correct bolts in and still the same issue. When I turn the key, the bendix gear comes out.....high pitch wine like the starter is spinning, but not the motor. Crawl under the car and the gear is still stuck to the starter.
I have tried shimming with no luck. Any suggestions?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,358
Likes: 379
From: Plano TX
Sounds like it's broken. Going from memory, but I think there's a reverse clutch on the bendix so that when the engine starts the bendix can "freewheel" faster than the starter motor is spinning. Maybe that mechanism is broken to where it's freewheeling all the time. I once had a starter that did that.
