Ratchet Style Starter Drive Repair

If the starter drive gets spun out, there is a fix. First, you need to take the starter drive back off from the starter motor shaft. Slide the spun starter drive onto a large heavy screwdriver handle. Make sure to wear your safety glasses before the next step. Now you need to turn on your wire wheel. Place the starter gear against the wire wheel in order to spin the starter drive. Note, Make sure to spin the starter drive in the direction in which the gear will turn over the engine when installed. When the drive starts to spin very quickly, apply a very small amount of pressure to the opposite end ( the bottom ) of the starter drive and you will see the drive return back into its down position.
Tools needed, Large heavy duty screwdriver, Electric wire wheel, safety glasses.

[@RT66TBIRD]

Excellent. It took me forever to find this information. I used this to return a 62 Thunderbird starter back into position.

[@michaelyates2696]

I tried for 2 hrs to fix mine. Used your technique and 20 seconds I was done. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

[@fiskfarm]

Great vid! Thanks so much. I did it a bit differently in that I left it on the starter and put the starter in a vise, spun it up with my booster pack and pushed with a small screwdriver and back in place it went. This one is on our wonderful Swinger loader with a 4 cyl. Ford diesel. Don't know what we would do without it here on our homestead.

[@SteinerTractorParts]

Great to hear you were able to get it fixed and things working again. Have a great day.

[@fiskfarm]

+Steiner Tractor Parts I brought my 12v jumper pack out to the field where the loader broke down and I was glad I did as I had to spin it up 2 more times to reset the bendix before I got it back in place. I simply stood on the starter and turned the pack switch on and pushed the bendix back with a screwdriver shaft when it spun up. Worked like a charm. Thanks again for the vid. Not sure what I would have done without it. Knowledge is king.

[@dshir6444]

thank you for the video! you saved me $200.

[@SteinerTractorParts]

Thank you Thomas it is great to hear we could help :-)

[@brewster102]

To be on the safe side, I used a vise grip on the right side with it set open enough to let it spin-- then put pressure on with the vise grip when its spinning full speed instead of your fingers

[@waynebrown1729]

Your video worked great for my starter drive. I spun it out by accident and tried to install it on the tractor, but no luck. I took it back off and used the wire brush and got the drive back in. I was careful not to let it spin out. Thanks a lot for a good video.

[@SteinerTractorParts]

We are happy we could help you out, and thank you for sharing your story. It is great to know that these videos are being of assistance to others.

[@meldeer6253]

THANK YOU SO MUCH i had no clue my buddy is a back yard macanic no it all wanted to use visegrips he said he's been doing it for 25 yr's bull S**^ thank you STEINER TRACTOR PARTS ....

[@jku72]

I have two starters that have this type drive. They both failed within minutes of installation with the gear being over traveled like this. One shattered the drive gear. The other over-sped the starter motor and blew it up. What a terrible design. One backfire and they are destroyed. The originals last 75 years, these cheap tin ones you need a tool box full of them. I’m just looking for an original starter to get rewound rather than keep wasting money on this design.

[@SteinerTractorParts]

We have not had many issues with this starter. We stand behind our products - if you feel this is a warranty claim, please contact us at 800-234-3280 and our returns team would be happy to assist.

[@ChadMoos-kw2gp]

maybe just me tried wire brush tried on stater with wood rod. finally had to tear it apart 1963 ford 4000 no magnets was springs and rust inside so think just to dirty but its cleaned up and fixed now

[@SteinerTractorParts]

You would have to take it off the starter first :)

[@jku72]

Been at it over an hour, tried both directions. It didn’t release.

[@mrmichael555]

I figured out how to take one of these apart and successfully reassemble it about three hours before I saw this video. 😆 Great tip, I will never forget it. Thank you.

[@ShaneTheMan]

I was able to do this with just a pick but how did you remove the drive from the starter..help!! Lol

[@jacobadam4556]

having problems with marine 305ci chevy, i think its wiping out the drive after 100 starts this put two different new starters on about after couple months seems like they kick out and free spin but when bolted to motor it doesnt crank. and if you hold key in start posistion for more than 10 seconds it starts to grab and crank motor over very slow but sounds like its grinding, I felt flywheel teeth and starter gear seem fine no signs of damage. I did find a bad short under the dash that was bolted down onto top of starter and the alternator had a short at the lead. I corrected them and starter is getting double the amperage but still free spinning. would a short cause the drive to wipe out?

[@Mike-dh5rp]

Thanks for the video. Even though I know better, I always spin them. 😉 Makes it a bear to reinstall.

[@SteinerTractorParts]

You are welcome, Hank! I'm so glad that we could help you out!

[@markhoyt8643]

Thank you I tried this and it works

[@ctloyd640]

You can also take a dental pick and follow each groove down until you find the one with the lock tang. Wiggle around and twist the starter gear the way you want it to go and it will release. Didn't have a bench grinder and had to come up with an alternative.

[@AdamKirkland-x7y]

Will I have to say Sir that you pretty much saved my life today with your little video.... I appreciate it more than you know. That worked perfectly !!

[@kevedamanyo]

I just got mine in the mail and played with it....clicked up and is stuck extended. I tried this trick fwd and bkwd. I held the ratchet part still while the wire wheel spun the rest of the unit clicking at 1750RPM, I did it without holidng the ratchet part, I tried it fast and putting pressure on, fast with no pressure (from the end)...I can't get it to go back. What in the world am I doing wrong? Is 1750 RPM not fast enough?

[@pa1889]

Used a dremel to spin mine, taped a sanding drum to couple it. Then, put it on a rod in a vice. Solid fix thank you.

[@SteinerTractorParts]

So glad we could help! Thanks for the comment!

[@SteinerTractorParts]

I'm glad the video helped you out!

[@geraldreihl5095]

Wow, this is awesome, I have an old 1960 plymouth I was trying to fix this exact issue. I took it all apart and found nothing I could to reset it. This is great!!!!! Thanks.

[@belindashields1912]

so thats how it works,awesome...

[@lauriewalker90]

Good tutorial but I think you for got to mention the installation of the woodruff key prior to installation of the pin on the bendix.

[@fastvega]

Took a few tries, but it worked. What keeps it from doing this on the tractor? Many thanks for the good vid.

[@hanknagel]

This video is really appreciated. New starter and drive to be put in on Friday morning, but Thursday night I began messing with the drive and opened it to see how it worked. Wouldn't close and just about freaked out until your trick got it back together and actually showed me how it works. THANK YOU!!

[@williamkinney8435]

Bought an ignitonswitch for a. 4630 tractor confurgation is not same as original. Wire end

[@cherokee12j]

Thanks for the video The starter drive on my T0-35 Ferguson would not engage the flywheel. I removed the starter and the rear housing. The drive would not extend. After applying some lube the drive I then watched your video to determine how this drive functioned as I had never seen one quite like this before. After watching your video I returned to the word bench and found the drive would then move and then became spun out and locked! Rather than disassembling farther I reinstalled the rear housing and put the starter back on the tractor with the drive in the extended position and started the tractor. The starter works fine now.

[@agalant93]

Do you have a part number for your t0-35 starter drive. I can't seem to find a ratchet style like this one.

[@mikeroosevelt5876]

I have a 57 860 model that the bendix has failed in the engaged position. I have not been able to free it off the flywheel. The starter body has 3 bolts to the bell housing. Removing those the starter assembly will slide back about 1/2 -3/4 inch and rotate but significant resistance is felt inside. any thought about getting it out?

[@SteinerTractorParts]

Hi Mike! Remove the oil filter, tip the front of the starter down, lift the rear (closest to the transmission) up, and wiggle like crazy! Hope this helps.

[@rayeluskie7346]

I didn't realize I had spun my drive and fought with the starter trying to get it back in. I found your video and fixed the problem in 5 minutes! Thanks for that post, I wish I had searched before I got the 3 cuts on my hands :)

[@SteinerTractorParts]

Ray, I am so happy we were able to help you out. I hope everything is running good again, and your cuts have healed. :-)

[@thequietestengine]

Might be an odd question, but where do you get the pins from? Because I didnt get one with my starter drive or starter motor.

[@SteinerTractorParts]

The pin is installed in the starter drive when shipped. You have to push the collar towards the gear and the pin should be in there.

[@larrywoodruff7530]

Very helpful tip, thank you sir.

[@fastvega]

Thank you, thought I messed up my new one!

[@bradz123456]

Hello, My 9N has the old spring in front of the drive. Will this method work on mine?

[@SteinerTractorParts]

***** Yes the ABC129 is replacement part for the old spring style starter drive.

[@walternelson1501]

I have been trying to do what you’re doing in your video and it’s not working what am I doing wrong

[@danw2876]

I have been trying to do this technique on 2 different Ford 8n starters for hours and never even come close to succeeding. Did you figure it out?

[@porterdalejeep]

Your video was a life saver. Thank you so much.

[@BrandonRohde84]

Thank you so much! Worked perfect on my Ford 860 tractor!

[@SteinerTractorParts]

Wonderful, so glad we could help.

[@dirtnbeer]

I did this while still on the starter shaft. Worked like a charm! Held starter up to bench grinder and she slid right back into place.

[@dj-nr8nm]

I'm going to try this

[@dirtnbeer]

@@dj-nr8nm did it work for you as well?

[@DonziGT230]

Thanks!!

[@williamkinney8435]

What's up with that

[@ottloblundly8]

Good info

[@MichaelKitko]

Thank you...

[@konstantink9387]

You saved my day! Thank you!

[@SteinerTractorParts]

So glad we could help. :-)

[@dantheman70p22]

Thanks Thanks Thanks

[@SteinerTractorParts]

You are very welcome. :-)