starter motors

[Jim Mason]

The lower one is the only one of its kind that I've seen in the wild.
What's the story? hint check your service bulletins

20171004_170931-1.jpg

[Tom Wesenberg]

It's the correct original 1928 starter for the ABELL drive.
Most, like the top one, have been modified to accept the new SERVICE DRIVE.
I have one or two of the originals like the bottom, but they are very rare.

[Mitch]

Everything Jim has is very rare

[Jim Mason]

I thought the lower armature had been modified per the December 28 service bulletin

[Jim Mason]

I'm still confused. Anybody?

[Rowdy]

Possibly 5/8" shaft turned down to 1/2"? Rod

[Jim Mason]

That's what I was thinking, but I trust Tom's opinion also. that's why my confusion. top one is ball bearings

[Tom Wesenberg]

The later 5/8" shaft starter drive is 5/8" from the drive end right up to the armature, and the rear bushing. The 1/2" starter is only 1/2" for the distance shown on the bottom starter, then it increases to larger than 5/8", and most likely it's about 3/4" for the pinion of the Abell drive to ride on, plus for the ID of the ball bearing. I've only been able to acquire 2 of the original unmodified 1/2" starters, as they are very rare.

Ford had a recall on the Abell drive, and the Service Letters instructed the mechanics to make the change whenever a car was in the shop for any service work. That's why they are so hard to find in original condition.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Here are some Abell Drive pictures that I posted years ago, but these are small since photobucket is holding my original pictures hostage.
The light spring only has a few turns and allow the inertia to let the pinion engage the flywheel. Once engaged, the heavy flywheel will let the heavy spring take over and the 2 pins on the pinion can finish climbing the helix and lock in at the end of the ramp. The few coils of the fine spring get compressed into the cup washer between the springs, thus protecting it from damage by the heavy spring.

The picture of the installed Abell is the first one I bought, and I had to weld some of the damaged pinion teeth. Abell Drive Exploded View.jpgAbell Drive.jpg

[DaWizard]

Ya know, when I was young and workin the swap meets, I don't remember ever paying much attention to the starters and bendix, but looking at this I can see why Henry had a recall on them as it doesn't look like the best idea for a bendix to me.

Tom, thanks for the info and learnin.

[Jim Mason]

Thanks tom, I've been wrong for along time.

[old31]

Tom, the wealth of knowledge that you have just amazes me. Could I borrow your brain for a while to see what its like??