Other Inside the Mysterious Bendix . . .Pics

[Midlake Crisis]

I finally dove in and took apart the bendix from my guest ski today. I haven't seen pics of the guts posted anywhere and I thought someone else might be interested to see what they are getting in to.
The hardest part is getting the first circlip off of the end of the shaft, the second hardest part is getting it back on. The rest was simple cleaning and lubing.

Seems to be working like new. . .:fingersx:

 

[Shifty]

Its good to finally see all the parts. That circlip looks like a major pain to remove; seems it would get stretched out upon removal. Was it still a snug fit once installed?

 

[Idok]

if you are going to go thru the task of disassebly, I'd replace that coil spring...thats where they always fail

 

[orangefinger]

spring is always failing x2

 

[sflsurfrider]

the flat metal weight 'spacer' with the 3 tabs always breaks, too.

 

[Midlake Crisis]

Circlip

Its good to finally see all the parts. That circlip looks like a major pain to remove; seems it would get stretched out upon removal. Was it still a snug fit once installed?

Yeah, I wouldn't really call it snug, but it was about like it was before removal.
Once I got it back on I tried to squeeze it closed as best I could, and that retractable collar at the tip helps to keep it in place as well.

 

[SuperJETT]

I've seen those pieces before, but typically they are bent/mangled/broken when I do.

 

[WaHoo_1]

I've seen those pieces before, but typically they are bent/mangled/broken when I do.

usually as a result of any of the following:

A) from the engine of my ski
B) from being picked up out of the road after being hurled from (see A)

 

[Quinc]

Is it still holding up? I am going to attempt striping mine

 

[Midlake Crisis]

Is it still holding up? I am going to attempt striping mine

Yes, that ski doesn't get out much but it is still working. It has probably been ridden less than 12 times in the six years since I posted the original pics.

 

[Quinc]

Just spent the last 5 minutes trying to break this down..

 

[Quinc]

I believe I found the weak spot on these. Of course it was after I cleaned it. This part(cage) here folds down to hold these three pieces in place. (No idea what they are called.) Looks like the cage starts breaking off and will eventually let the three pieces work there way out to wreck your stator and flywheel. Mine has 3 of the 6 teeth left.
Should look like this:


You can see here the left bracket is broken.

 

[JetManiac]

I believe I found the weak spot on these. Of course it was after I cleaned it. This part(cage) here folds down to hold these three pieces in place. (No idea what they are called.) Looks like the cage starts breaking off and will eventually let the three pieces work there way out to wreck your stator and flywheel. Mine has 3 of the 6 teeth left.
Should look like this:
View attachment 293173

You can see here the left bracket is broken.
View attachment 293176

You are correct. The weight plate has spacers for the 3 weights with 2 bent tabs on each spacer. The metal is weakened from being bent during manufacture and it is very common for the tabs to break off. After they break off the weights are free to move around more and they eventually break the spring and all hell breaks loose afterward! Many assume it was the spring that fails first but in our experience working on hundreds of bendix that it is a broken plate or water intrusion that causes most bendix failures. We stock new OEM replacement weight plates for repair.

Another bendix thread here:
http://www.x-h2o.com/index.php?threads/bendix-takes-out-stator-right-before-daytona.144424/

Post #2 here:
http://www.x-h2o.com/index.php?thre...el-stator-start-stop-solenoid-cdi-msd.146781/

 

[Vumad]

You are correct. The weight plate has spacers for the 3 weights with 2 bent tabs on each spacer. The metal is weakened from being bent during manufacture and it is very common for the tabs to break off. After they break off the weights are free to move around more and they eventually break the spring and all hell breaks loose afterward! Many assume it was the spring that fails first but in our experience working on hundreds of bendix that it is a broken plate or water intrusion that causes most bendix failures. We stock new OEM replacement weight plates for repair.

Another bendix thread here:
http://www.x-h2o.com/index.php?threads/bendix-takes-out-stator-right-before-daytona.144424/

Post #2 here:
http://www.x-h2o.com/index.php?thre...el-stator-start-stop-solenoid-cdi-msd.146781/

I generally assume you sell everything. Can individual componets be purchased from you should the need ever arise?

 

[JetManiac]

I generally assume you sell everything. Can individual componets be purchased from you should the need ever arise?

Yes.

 

[orangefinger]

the coil spring u got that ??? I need a bunch of those

 

[mybad]

I just recently cleaned and lubed my bendix. Take some wet sandpaper and smooth over the shaft.

 

[AdzUK]

Has anyone got pictures of the middle bit pulled apart? I had a seized one I have stripped and free'd off but it sounds like it could do with a clean inside the middle bit.

 

[Quinc]

Has anyone got pictures of the middle bit pulled apart? I had a seized one I have stripped and free'd off but it sounds like it could do with a clean inside the middle bit.

I wasn't able to get mine apart. At least not without chancing damaging it. I let mine soak in kroil then sprayed it out with starting fluid.

 

[Mark22]

That circlip looks like a major pain to remove; seems it would get stretched out upon removal. Was it still a snug fit once installed?

Circlips are a pain... Unless you have the right tools. I work in starter remanufacturing and we remove circlips like this all day. Typically we destroy the ring removing it. We use a resistance soldering iron on the side of the ring opposite of the gap and heat it up cherry red. That kills the temper and make it easy to remove with a pick. For reinstalling the rings, we have a cone-shaped tool that sits on the end of the shaft and we use a hollow punch tool to press the ring over the tool on to the shaft. To set the collar on the ring, we have stands that hold the ring and a hollow punch tool with a thin lip to hammer the circlip into the collar. At you home shop, you can hold the ring in a vice and use a small punch or screwdriver to work around the circlip and knock it into the collar.

A starter/alternator shop would be a good place to check for a replacement circlip if you damage the old one. Some of the rings are a fairly common size. Some rings are common... I have a couple of bendix's at home, I might take one apart and see if I can find a common starter circlip that will fit it.