12 volt starter

[Deleted User]

My car was converted to 12 volt many years ago It has a 56 308 12 volt starter on it, recently about every other time I went to start my car nothing would happen, except idiot lights would go out. If I kept engaging the starter it would finally turn and start the car. I took the starter to A and D auto parts in North Royalton Ohio. and had it rebuilt. When I got it back and put it on the car it just spins and the bendix will not move forward and engage the fly wheel. A&D states it's working fine. HELP I want my starter to turn over the engine. I can not get any help from A&D and I'm out 125.00 for the rebuild that messed up the starter. Any ideas on how to fix my starter?

faustmb

With the starter out, make sure that the Bendix is not jammed. I had the best luck here using a light oil instead of grease, to allow it to move freely. It sounds like they rebuild the electric portion and not the Bendix. If you find anything wrong with Bendix, spares should be plentiful.

[Deleted User]

Problem solved. Took off the mounting plate side turned it 180 degrees, it now engages flywheel and starts right up.

lostmind

Yes , they are offset. There is a locating lug I believe.
I rebuilt starters and generators for a living. I quickly learned to put " witness " marks
on the parts , so it went back together the way it came apart.
Occasionally , I would get one that had been reassembled incorrectly , then
the fun begins--What's right and what's wrong.

[Deleted User]

Yes ,the offset is so slight it is hard to see. Bendix goes out but is too far away from flywheel to mate with teeth. Good for you ,shame on A&D
Roger [-X