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.
"Much of the social history of the Western world, over the past three decades, has been a history of replacing what worked with what sounded good." Thomas Sowell
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.
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.
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.
You wana look waaay far up da road and plan yer route because the brakes are far more of a suggestion than a command!
As many of you have read in the Service Bulletins, the "SERVICE DRIVE" replaced the troublesome Abell drive for 1928 Starters. For those who haven't seen a service drive, here is a picture of one. A couple weeks ago I bought some drives and springs on ebay, hoping that one of the springs would be correct for this drive. Unfortunately none were the correct spring. After the gathering at Brent's...
I worked on the differential a little today, nothing remarkable, just cleaning things up. So I figured I needed a break from it, I think I'll start the T.S.it's been a while. So I was picking up where I left it and it wouldn't start, wouldn't even crank. I put the jumper cables directly on the starter, Nothing! I have another starter and AHA! That's when I remembered it has a high starter button....
Here is a link to a 1928 starter on ebay, but only the main body is 1928, with the pyramid contact for the starter switch. The armature shaft and drive are the later 5/8" style, and will not work with the multiplate flywheel. The bolts holding the spring will hit the flywheel. Also notice the drive was sprayed with silver paint, and the Bendix spring has rust pits. Anytime a spring has rust pits...
I evidently have an early starter that has the thin walled bushing on the long shaft. Can that armature be used with the later ends? It appears the id and length are the same, so why not?
I have a modern Bendix on my car. Today, something went haywire. The starter jammed. I figured I might have busted the spring since the car was converted to 12V. When I removed the starter, I saw that the drive is not the original style. My question is, is the drive supposed to look like this? As you can see, the barrel with the gear comes off of the inner spiral. Seems to me that they should be one...
Ok boys and girls, I finished removing the starter and stuck my flexible magnet down the hole to see what would jump out at me, and this is what I found.
In all my years of experience, a search of my internal hard drive has come up empty, so I am putting the question out to the ...
Here is a good buy on some starter drives and springs, but none of them are for the Model A. These springs and drive helix all have RIGHT HAND turns, and the Model A needs LEFT HAND turns. If you can't remember while searching swap meets, just stop and think how the starter shaft has to turn to make the engine spin, and as the starter armature turns, it pulls the spring in such a way that the coils...
Years ago Ben Staub made the very best reproduction of the original Model A Service Bulletins. Every once in a while they show up on ebay. I bought a set about 15 years ago. These are a bit high, but if you want the best, here is a set now on ebay.
Has anyone replaced the ford model A starter push rod with button - the peddle is stuck. So why would I replace the rod, when I could replace the rod with a switch? Has anyone tried this?...
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