<VV> Starter Mystery

[Jim Becker]

The Wiki article current version vs. an old edit highlights the difference. 
Current version says:
"The Bendix system places the starter drive pinion on a helical drive 
spring. When the starter motor begins turning, the inertia of the drive 
pinion assembly causes it to wind the spring forcing the length of the 
spring to change and engage with the ring gear."
Until 2/2011 Wiki said:
"The Bendix system places the starter drive pinion on a helically-cut 
driveshaft. When the starter motor begins turning, the inertia of the drive 
pinion assembly causes it to ride forward on the helix and thus engage with 
the ring gear."

The difference between the 2 versions is conceptually much like the 
difference between your un-proofed and your corrected statements (spiral 
shaft or not).  My (brief) reading of the patent, it seems to match your 
corrected statement and the old version of Wiki.  The patent says "My 
starter is of that type having a screw shaft or the like operated by the 
prime mover either directly from the armature shaft or indirectly by gearing 
and having mounted thereon a driving member in the form of a pinion adapted 
to engage or mesh with some member of the engine for rotating its crank 
shaft or the like.".

The Bendix Corporation made Corvair style starter drives, even though they 
were a different design than shown in the original Bendix patents.  So to 
say they technically aren't Bendix drives is like saying late model Corvairs 
technically aren't Corvairs.

Jim Becker

-----Original Message----- 
From: Joel McGregor via VirtualVairs
Sent: Monday, August 10, 2015 4:51 AM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re:  Starter Mystery

I obviously didn't proof what I wrote.
I wrote " The drive in a standard Corvair starter is commonly referred to as 
a Bendix although it technically is not because it uses a spiral shaft to 
keep the gear engaged."
I meant to say it uses a spiral shaft like a Bendix but doesn't use a wind 
up return spring so it isn't technically a Bendix.
It is pretty close to a Bendix but uses the solenoid to provide engagement 
and also postpone the starter motor spinning until the gear is extended 
instead of using the gear's inertia.
The wiki article seems to be a pretty good description of what the patent 
says.  Where is it off?
Joel McGregor


-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Becker [mailto:mr.jebecker at gmail.com]
Subject: Re: <VV> Starter Mystery

A Bendix drive does use a spiral shaft (but not a solenoid).  That WIKI 
article is messed up.  It had a valid description prior to somebody editing 
it in Feb 2011.  Don't take my word for it.  Read the actual 1916 Bendix 
patent cited in the Wiki article.

Jim Becker

-----Original Message-----
From: Joel McGregor via VirtualVairs
Sent: Saturday, August 08, 2015 12:26 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Subject: Re:  Starter Mystery

I seriously doubt the aftermarket starter actually uses a Bendix drive.  You 
also said no spring is involved.  What keeps the gear from grinding on the 
ring gear all the time?  A true Bendix uses a spring.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bendix_drive
The drive in a standard Corvair starter is commonly referred to as a Bendix 
although it technically is not because it uses a spiral shaft to keep the 
gear engaged.
Are you claiming that the aftermarket starters ram the fully spinning 
starter gear into the ring gear and just count on inertia to keep it there?
No solenoid action?  If that is how they are built I wouldn't want one.
That would be really hard on the teeth.

Joel McGregor

-----Original Message-----
From: VirtualVairs [mailto:virtualvairs-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of 
Dale Smiley via VirtualVairs
Subject: Re: <VV> Starter Mystery

The stock Corvair Starter DOES NOT use a "Bendix Gear" assembly to engage 
the Starter!
The Hi-Torque Starter uses a 'Bendix Gear' assembly that uses the Starter 
Motors rotation to make the starter gear engage the flywheel gear. When the 
engine starts the flywheel gear 'throws' the Bendix Gear back to the 
Starter. There is no spring involved and I believe it takes the 'kick' from 
the flywheel when the engine starts to return it to its 'normal' position.
If the engine doesn't start the Bendix Gear may not return to is 'rest'
position!
Regards,
Dale Smiley (oldqmguy)

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