[dinger]

I'm helping a friend of mine install a conversion kit, A Ford c-4 to a 1935 Ford flathead. The question is this: When we bench test the starter or even when we had it bolted to the engine for a test fit, the starter drive would not disengage after it turned the flywheel, the starter drive wouldn't go back to the end of the shaft it rides on. Does the engine have to start to make the drive return to the original position? This is the original flathead starter. Dan

 

[pasadenahotrod]

The spring is weak or broken or the starter is worn out. New Bendix springs should be available from your local antique Ford parts house.

 

[dinger]

One of the flathead gurus came by the other day, he says the engine on startup will spin the gear back. These starters are different then regular starters, the starter drive pulls back to the flywheel instead of kicking forward to the flywheel. Dan