Technical Question about flathead starter

Hey guys and gals,
My starter on the 41 239inch isn't engaging with the flywheel all of a sudden.
Rebuilt starter worked excellent for a couple years. . . until yesterday. I hadn't run the car in probably 3 weeks.
Battery at 12.77 volts and have small charger
Battery posts and cables mint clean and good.
I did remove the starter, all pieces inside look good, then put it back.
Hit the button and ZIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGG
a couple of clunky noises but not engaging, any thoughts?

 

Use the Fan to turn the motor just a bit so the Bendix hits a different set of teeth and see what happens. Not all that uncommon for the Clutch in the Bendix to fail even on a good starter, specially using 12-V

 

I've run a stock flathead starter on 12 volts and have had the bendix spring wind tight enough that it won't let the bendix extend. try Pist-n_Broke's suggestion and if it still doesn't work you might as well pull the starter and see what's going on, you can hit it with jumper cables and see if the bendix works.

 

@wheeldog57

It is possible the spring is broken and was not noticed when you had the starter out. I’d check that again.

Ray

 

Hnstray has the answer.

 

Thanks fellas, I will pull it tomorrow and report the results.

 

Its been a LONG TIME since I fooled with one but isn't there a 5/16" bolt with a 1/4" or so " shoulder" that fits into a recess on the starter shaft that if the shoulder shears off causes this symptom??

 

This starter is bolted to the bell housing via the two bolts shown, they pass through the body of the starter

 

Try confirming a good ground, by clamping a good jumper cable to the ground on the battery and to that bolt you see going through the starter body. The starter needs to complete the ground circuit from the starter housing back to the battery. It requires a clean connection to the bell housing and a flex ground strap from the engine to the battery. Rubber motor mounts are not a good conductor.

 

you should also have a small bracket that goes off the case bolt and over to one of the oil pan bolts. they help ground it and really add a lot of stability to the starter

 

All good answers and things to check good luck!! Lippy

 

Also it appears the bracket from the starter bolt to the oil pan is missing.
Paul in CT

 

Well, I think I found out what's up with the starter. . . . I will drive that out and try to locate one tomorrow.
As for your suggestions, thanks to all who chimed in. I will add a couple of ground straps.

 

Turns out what I thought was a pin is a bolt that broke off, yay! I get to drill this out. Wish me luck.
Anyone have a picture of a similar starter? I would like to know if I need a special bolt head and if I need a lock washer, flat washer, both, etc. Thanks, Ron

 

feeling very fortunate right now.

 

yes, its a special bolt with a shoulder, and a special lock washer to do it rite

 

Yes it is as rusty valley said. Take the other bolt out of the spring for a sample. Doubt you'll find anything close at a hardware store.

 

might want to find the head of that bolt too before the flywheel does