Re: 1941 Packard 110 starter teeth jam

Posted by HH56 On 2015/8/23 13:05:32

You didn't mention if the car has been converted to 12v. If so rather than convert the whole car back, when you have the starter checked out inquire about converting the starter to 12v. It can be done. As Owen mentioned, there have been several instances reported in the last year where the increased torque and speed of the 12v operation on the stock 6v starter has jammed the starter or worse, cracked or broke the nose of the casting.

I don't know if starters that early could have had the Bendix replaced with the anti-kickback type introduced in the early 50s but I know Packard issued a bulletin on retrofitting some earlier starters if owners complained or problems of false starts occurred.

If it has been retrofitted and the car does false start or the starter disengages before the real start can spin the Bendix fast enough to generate the centrifugal force to get the pinion back and kickback pin set properly in its detent, the pinion can wander out of the park position. Conceivably it could jam in the ring gear. Usually it is accompanied by a horrible noise as the gears grate together but I suppose if the conditions were right it could just jam and little noise be generated.