Starter Motor

Recently I converted my 6v starter to 12v, using the accepted method by many Model A'ers. The shock load on the Bendix Spring was too great and when two Bendix springs failed, I was looking for alternatives.

A remedy that seemed to work and will give much softer engagement is as follows

Fit a 7mm thick spacer between the starter motor and flywheel housing. This reduces the "out of mesh" clearance to 3mm instead of having 10mm. Reducing the "our of mesh" gives a much softer engagement that previously. (Simular to the original 6v system).

The spacer used in my case was a modified drive end plate from another 6v starter motor. These are 10mm thick so it was machined down to 7mm; and a 60mm hole was machined in the centre to allow the Bendix Spring and it's bolts to pass through. The end plate was also undercut on the motor side to suit the existing starter motor spigot, as shown on the diagram below.

Existing mounting bolt (3) were re-used.

                                                                                          John Fishlock