1955 Starter not engaging | Ford Thunderbird club group 1955-2005 T-Bird models
  • We're glad you found us via a search engine! Right now, you can join our club absolutely free and unlock member only features like the site search! This notice only appears once! It only takes 30 seconds to register, and we would love to have you as part of the World's largest Thunderbird Forum/Club! Click here to continue

1955 Starter not engaging

J
Reaction score
0
Thunderbird Year
1955
my starter just make noise like turning and it don’t engage with the engine gear plate the engine don’t turn, the engine is free is not stuck I can move it easy with the crank pulley I have tried with 6v and 12v batteries any idea of what could be the problem.

This page contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 
I agree with the above, but you also need to check the condition of the teeth on the ring gear.
 
I agree with everybody above that it is most likely the bendix since you say you can rotate the engine by hand thus eliminating a bad tooth or two on the ring gear. I had a bendix literally disintergrate when I had a backfire on starting after which the starter would spin but not engage the engine. See my post from February (https://forums.fordthunderbirdforum.com/threads/1956-bendix-gear-disintegrated.17140/). You can check it by dropping the access plate at the bottom of the bell housing (I found several of the teeth from the bendix there) and check the ring gear. The gear isn't that difficult to replace but be careful not to let the gear extend to far down the shaft as it will lock in the extended position so the starter won't go back in and you need to spin the gear to release the locking pins. (there are several post on how to unlock the bendix)
 
Back
Top