Bendix drive
Bendix drive
My 82 FXRS shovelhead starter would only kick the engine over the first compression stroke and then the drive would release and the motor would freewheel. I'd hear the solenoid snap back into place when I let go of the starter button. It would do it with the spark plug wires off. The bike only has 10K miles on it but sat for 20 years so I figured it was a lube problem. I pulled the drive which looked and felt perfect but I put oil in it as best I could. It didn't help. So I thought maybe its not suppose to have much lube in it so I soaked it in gas. I could hear the works inside when I spun the gear after. It now works great. Has anyone run into this before?
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Cape Brerton
Sounds like the bendix was sticking (not locking up) I know you are not suppose to use lube on them so thats why the gas worked. Probably a good idea to pick one up, for some reason once they stick once or twice the problem is not long coming back. It'a quick, inexpensive fix. Your local starter shop can do it if not yourself.
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Yep, used to work on small engines and tore the pull start drives apart often...
The bendix works the same way, ***** are thrown out from centrifugal force. We used a very small dab of grease to hold the ***** in place while reinstalling the pull drives, but if ya over do it, they'll stick every time!
(I guess I should clarify that the bendix actually travels outward along the shaft, to engage the starter gear through the inertia of the spinning starter shaft. Then when the engine turns over, the rpm of the starter gear exceeds the speed of the starter shaft and bendix, kicking the bendix away from the starter gear. The pull start mechanism on the small motors is stationary, and it is centrifugal force which creates the engagement. Prolly wasn't a good idea for me to say they work the same. Although they achieve the same goal, centrifugal force is not the same as thrust induced inertia. )
The bendix works the same way, ***** are thrown out from centrifugal force. We used a very small dab of grease to hold the ***** in place while reinstalling the pull drives, but if ya over do it, they'll stick every time!
(I guess I should clarify that the bendix actually travels outward along the shaft, to engage the starter gear through the inertia of the spinning starter shaft. Then when the engine turns over, the rpm of the starter gear exceeds the speed of the starter shaft and bendix, kicking the bendix away from the starter gear. The pull start mechanism on the small motors is stationary, and it is centrifugal force which creates the engagement. Prolly wasn't a good idea for me to say they work the same. Although they achieve the same goal, centrifugal force is not the same as thrust induced inertia.
)
Last edited by CroK; Feb 16, 2010 at 10:36 AM.
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