Starter Drive Question

SuperDave

The starter (Hydra-Matic) I took off the shelf (source unknown). Was smoking and dragging. So I took another unknown one off the shelf and installed it. Worked great except the drive would not dis-engage. Upon inspection. Both starters are the same number and exactly alike EXCEPT. The drive gear teeth are much longer on the second one..??..I simply put the drive end from the old one on the good starter and the car is fixed.. But what is the deal with the longer gear? Perhaps Hash starter drive? I don't have any parts books beyond 54.

[Deleted User]

Dave, My experience is that the longer width teeth on your barrel gear is from a Ford. Hudson standard and automatic starters used the same barrel gear which was shorter than the Ford barrel gear. At first glance it appears that the longer teeth gear will work Both 7 teeth etc. .It works but won't retract far enough to disengage. I was told by a Ford tractor guy that Ford 8N and 9N tractors used the same standard starter bendix that Hudson did except that later on the went to a longer tooth version. Worked great on Ford tractors but NOT on Hudsons. Some mechanics didn't know that. You'll also have a heck of a job getting those longer barrel gear starters on a hydramatic to let loose so you can remove the whole starter. Been there done that. A large pain to say the least. Don't know about the hashes. Foreign territory there.

SuperDave

I have a 54 262 and a HD from a 54 308. both in a 49. I have never worked on a torque tube Hudson , so all I knew was the flywheel and crank were different. I think Lance has it right. This starter looks like someone attempted to rebuild or repair it. The bendix gear looked like new, but the armature and housing was well used. No doubt someone (maybe me years ago?) put the wrong Bendix on it. It didn't jamb it's self so was easy to remove. For once,, I got lucky!
Thanks Guys

Park_W

I think this (incorrect gear) explains the problem I had a year or two ago. Managed to modify the Bendix so the pinion would rest a bit further to the rear (of the car) when it kicked out.

SuperDave

Here is a picture of the two side by side.