1947 Bendix (diving bell) -- HELP!!!!

[easyspindry]

I plugged in the Bendix and it ran through one cycle fine -- no leaks -- even the timer worked.

Now, the motor will buzz, but won't turn. I've been told it's the starter switch in the motor. I've also been told that the starter switches for this motor are obsolete -- it's a Delco motor.

Can anyone help? I don't even know what a starter switch is. Does anyone have one? Does anyone have a motor? Does anyone have the whole pump/motor/transmission assembly?

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

If needed, my e-mail is [email protected]

Jerry Gay

 

[easyspindry]

Here's a picture of the Bendix after I've removed the sides.

 

[Unimatic1140]

I've been told it's the starter switch in the motor. I've also been told that the starter switches for this motor are obsolete

Hi Jerry, I'm assuming the person who told you this was from a motor repair shop? That's code for "OMG there's a lot of parts on that motor to take off before I even get to the start switch to fix it and I don't want to deal with it".

In most cases motor start switches can be fixed by sanding and cleaning their contacts. But with the Bendix it's going to be a bit of a challenge because the pump is on one side and the transmission is on the other. I'm not sure which side the start switch is on, but once you determine which side it is on, you need to remove the component (either the pump or the tranny) first to be able to access the switch for a good cleaning.

 

[jetcone]

Hi Jerry

Robert is right but actually you have to remove both ends to be able to disassemble the motor.

The start switch is located on the pump end under the bell end of the motor, that's that silver end cap on the motor behind the pump.

First drain the oil out of the tranny
Next remove all the bolts holding the tranny to the motor
Remove the tranny with the tranny tilted down and the motor tilted up otherwise the clutch will fall out and you don't want that! REALLY!
Now with the tranny off Bendix, uses a funky little bendable collar around the motor shaft which you will now see in a grove in the motor shaft sticking into where the tranny was.
Pick and bend this collar out of the shaft grove so that you will be able to pull the rotor out of the motor other end.

Now you have to carefully get the pump off without damaging the seals. The impeller is a #$%*&* on these units, what works best is HEAT Then Parafin Wax and quickly as the parafin is wet from the heat apply WD-40. Repeat and then try to remove the set screw on the pump impeller and pull the impeller off the shaft.

Once that is free you can pull the motor end bell and rotor out of the motor casing as one unit and work from the inside to clean the contacts with emery paper. BE SURE and lub all the centrifugal counterweights and slides so that the start switch will kick out at high speed.

Reassemble and Boom Boom You're Done!!

 

[easyspindry]

Unimatic and Jetcone -- thanks heeps and gobs for your information about the Bendix motor starter switches. I will get to work on it as soon as possible. It's exciting to think that I might be in business soon.

I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks again.

Jerry Gay