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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging

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Blue3992

10-09-2006 14:47:35




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I’ve got an M with a 12 Volt system, but still has the 6 Volt starter.

Occasionally, I’ll go to start it, and all I get is a “spinning” sound from the starter, like its not engaging the flywheel. Pull out the starter, and the little gear (bendix gear?) is stuck at the bottom of the shaft. I usually take a flathead screwdriver and tap it a couple times against the teeth and it spins and spirals up the shaft like its supposed to. I reinstall the starter, and away I go.

This happens about once every 6 times I try to start it.

How do I fix permanently fix this? Is it the starter shaft that’s bad, or the bendix gear? I tried oiling the shaft with some 30W oil, but that hasn’t helped.

Should I just get the starter rebuilt? How much should that cost?

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Marty Johns

10-09-2006 19:58:52




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Blue3992, 10-09-2006 14:47:35  
as far as cost! I/WE have a good shop close by, thar would cost me 40.00 to 60.00 dependimg on the depth of the repair/rebuid!!!!!



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Bob M

10-09-2006 19:15:11




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Blue3992, 10-09-2006 14:47:35  
Most likely a worn bendix. What happens is when the engine first fires it sometimes violently spins the pinion gear which sends the pinion back down the bendix screw until it slams into it's "home" position. And if the bendix threads are worn the pinion may jam when it hits the bottom of the bendix screw. Then the next time you try to start the pinion will not screw out until you manually unjam it with your screwdriver.

Sometimes a little more life can be coaxed out of a bendix by putting a bead of weld to form a new stopjust above the point where the pinion "bottoms out" on the screw . However for about $40 or so you can buy a new bendix assembly and solve the problem permanently.

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Blue3992

10-09-2006 19:22:23




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Bob M, 10-09-2006 19:15:11  
Any suggestions on a good place to buy one? Will I need to go to a Starter/Generator rebuild place?



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Don L C

10-09-2006 18:35:21




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Blue3992, 10-09-2006 14:47:35  
Take the starter out --- remove the bendix.... look for a burr on the shaft or on the bendix....clean it up good with emery paper .....try grafite lube



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Hayfarmer

10-09-2006 18:16:49




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Blue3992, 10-09-2006 14:47:35  
I have a JD 430 that does that on occasion. I got a new, supposedly right bendex for it and it got worse. I can usually spin mine fairly fast, tyrn it off and then hit the starter again and it will engage. T first I thought the problem with mine was that the shaft was rough at the lower end. Later I figured that maybe it was going too far back on the shaft and hanging up. Not real sure what causes it but is exasperating. might help to pull it off and clean the shaft and lube it with something light.

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Wardner

10-09-2006 17:22:31




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Blue3992, 10-09-2006 14:47:35  
I am not sure what the proper lube is for a Bendix, but I have always heard that it should be light. I would google on "bendix lubrication".



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Keith-OR

10-09-2006 19:34:52




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Wardner, 10-09-2006 17:22:31  
Graphite powder!!HTH

Keith & Shawn



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old

10-09-2006 15:44:59




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 Re: Farmall M Starter Just Spinning—Not Engaging in reply to Blue3992, 10-09-2006 14:47:35  
Sounds like the starter bendex is going bad. I have an Allis C that does the same thing but I'm to cheap to buy the parts to fix it and it only does it once in awhile any how. You also may have a ruff spot on it that is causeing that problem



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