<VV> starter woes

[Chuck Kubin]

Hey Padgett, 
Sounds like what I said two days ago. 
If you are going to pull and disassemble the starter
to change the Bendix, finish the rebuild by putting in
brushes, bushings and solenoid contacts as well. All
you need if the armature is good.
I liked your description of how it works.

Chuck Kubin
--- Padgett <pp2 at 6007.us> wrote:

> Hokay folks, things are getting a bit confused here.
> A GM starter is made 
> up of two major components (and has not changed a
> whole lot since 1914), 
> the starter motor and the solenoid.
> 
> When the solenoid fails, nothing happens (or maybe a
> click). Major failure 
> mode after 40 years is a burned contact plate. The
> motor again has two 
> major elements, the motor itself (armature, field
> coils, brushes, 
> bearings). A rebuild usually consists of bearings
> and brushes though 
> occasionally you will find a [shorted|open] armature
> or burned contacts on 
> the armature. The other element in the motor
> assembly is the bendix drive 
> in the "drive end". This unit slides on a splined
> end of the armature.
> 
> On starting the solenoid pulls a stirrup assembly
> which moves the drive 
> from the disengaged position into contact with the
> ring gear on the 
> flywheel. Once fully pulled out and the gear is
> engaged, a contact is made 
> in the bottom of the solenoid that energises the
> motor. As long as the 
> motor is trying to spin faster than the engine, a
> set of dog clutches 
> (rollers) connect the motor to the flywheel. and the
> starter spins the motor.
> 
> To avoid spinning the starter at a speed greater
> than reasonable for an 
> unbalanced assembly with smal plain bearings, when
> the motor stars, the dog 
> clutches disengage, and the starter is not longer
> directly connected to the 
> flywheel.
> 
> When the rollers get worn, they no longer engage
> properly and may only turn 
> the engine for a second or two before slipping. This
> is when you hear the 
> starter speed up without turning the engine. This is
> more likely to happen 
> when the bendix is hot and it heats up quickly in
> use.
> 
> In general, the bendix drive is available as a
> separate  part however the 
> difficulty of removing a starter means that
> typically a general overall 
> inspection will be made and brushes, bearings, and
> solenoid will be 
> replaced along with the drive since the starter has
> to be disassembled (at 
> least the nose piece removed) to replace the drive.
> 
> More than you wanted to know ?
> 
> Padgett 
> 
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