<VV> Starter Mystery

[Joel McGregor]

I agree.
Thanks Jim

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

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