Flywheel wear

[DrewNJ]

How much wear on the teeth of the flywheel is to much?

Once in awhile the starter would miss and freewheel. I figured it was the bendix going bad. Well after pulling it apart the bedix is in great shape and operates nice and smooth/loose.
The teeth on the flywheel have a decent amount of wear on them.
Any advice would be great.
Thanks
Doug

 

[Powder]

too much is when it starts to slip. what are you running 62t or 61x? got any pics?

 

[Matt_E]

You may want to check the condition of the bendix bushings. I personally haven't heard of a ring gear wearing out to where the bendix will not engage.

There is a brass bushing in the top case half, and in the flywheel cover. If either one (especially the one in the cases) gets worn out, the bendix can wobble and miss the flywheel to some extent.

 

[DrewNJ]

Thanks guys,

I'll take some pics this afternoon at lunch and check those bushings tonight as well.
How in the F do you get the bushings out??

Oh, it's a 62T

Thanks Again!
Doug

 

[DrewNJ]

OK guys here are some pics of the flywheel showing the wear I was talking about.
Think this flywheel needs to go, or do you think it's got some life left??

Thanks again
Doug

 

[Matt_E]

I may very well be wrong - but I think the teeth are beveled like that on purpose to ease engagement of the bendix.

 

[tom21]

No, I believe you are correct, but what will tell more is to lay it down with the inside facing up(like a bowl) and look across the top horizontally at the teeth and you will see there are certain areas that the teeth are always engaged at and they will be worn down, that is where the problem lies. at some point the teeth will slip or miss engagement.

 

[tom21]

oops looks like you see it already, its hard to tell from the pics. but it looks like it make be toast.

 

[DrewNJ]

yea, the wear is at 2 positions of the flywheel and they are 180 degrees from each other.
So it's like the teeth are worn at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions on the flywheel.

I'm going to check for worn bendix bushings tonight. If the bendix bushings were worn wouldn't the teeth that run the bendix to the starter look bad too?

Guess I need to start looking for flywheel....

 

[Powder]

Guess I need to start looking for flywheel....

I prob have an extra lightened one, will look tonight.

 

[michael950]

I would investigate the cause before replacing it. If it was not a bunk flywheel, you may kill another.

Respectfully,

950

 

[Matt_E]

Make sure the case bushing holds the bendix securely....you should not be able to wiggle the bendix much at all.

 

[Powder]

I would investigate the cause before replacing it. If it was not a bunk flywheel, you may kill another.

Respectfully,

950

my impulse thought is there are two positions the crank will naturally rest in when you kill the motor due to compression so there are two section of the wheel that see the most wear. I could be wrong, just a thought and I have been sick all week so my brain is in slow motion.

 

[Watty]

My first point of service would be the starter motor. Quite often, a buildup of junk from the starter brushes can cause erratic behaviour.

Also, while you've got it apart, pull the brushes out and make sure that there isn't a crack in the copper bracket that connects the two pairs of brushes. I've seen 3 starter motors like this (mine included) where they would engage 75% of the time, and the rest just free-spin. Sometimes they create too much resistance (from a crack, crud buidup) and don't have the initial torque to throw the bendix all the way out into the flywheel teeth properly.

Check this first and save yourself some coin.

Edit....Oh yeah, those two contacting positions are normal, and I'm with Matt....I've never seen a flywheel worn bad enough that it causes the bendix to mis-engage. Yours looks just fine.

 

[Matt_E]

If you pull the starter apart, be sure to use new rubber gaskets when you put it back together.

 

[DrewNJ]

Thanks guys. I checked the bushings the bendix rests in and they seem snug. No obvious wobble or movement at all.

I'll pull the starter next and check for "crud" and "cracks" next.
Wattage- That's exactly what mine is doing. About 75% of the time it engages fine, but once in awhile it just free spins.
Doug

 

[Matt_E]

Are you sure the bendix itself isn't engaging the flywheel? More often than not, the bendix itself is going out.
A good way to see/check what's going on is to have an extra flywheel cover, cut it up to where only the bendix holding portion is left. Install that - Then you can see what's going on when you hit that start button.

 

[DrewNJ]

The bendix seems to be in great shape. It operates nice and smooth.
Unless I'm missing something.......:frown:

 

[Watty]

Are you sure the bendix itself isn't engaging the flywheel? More often than not, the bendix itself is going out.
A good way to see/check what's going on is to have an extra flywheel cover, cut it up to where only the bendix holding portion is left. Install that - Then you can see what's going on when you hit that start button.

That works, but it's almost a waste of time, simply becuase you know that the bendix isn't engaging properly, otherwise it would be spinning the flywheel. Very handy for seeing if your bendix is sticking out though.

I'm betting that it's the starter. Rule out the bendix by soaking it in penetrene or the like, and then let it dry so it's all out. Next, hold the ring gear that contact the starter spline and let the front hang to the ground. If all is well, you should be able to lightly bob the bendix up and down and it should throw out until it hits the stopper circlip. Gravity should make it come off it's seat by just holding it up.

See how you go.

 

[Matt_E]

Handy to have around for checking timing, too. (That's what mine is really for)