Starter motor confusion

[hanvyj]

The bendix was shattered so I pulled the starter motor out and spent all day yesterday pulling it apart and fitting a new one.

Except now I put it back together... Nothing. The inertial system isnt working.

At first I thought it was spinning the wrong way, but no. Counterclockwise like it should.

When I twist the bendix, it goes down easily, but it needs the starter to spin the other way. There's no way I could have put the screw on wrong, the thread can't be reversed obviously. I just don't see how it could possibley work. The bebdix goes down if the shaft is spun clockwise!

Am I being really stupid here? No idea what I've done wrong.

[hanvyj]

Might be being thick actually. I recon it's not spinning fast enough, probably shorting out internally.

[bmcecosse]

You fitted a new bendix......or a new starter? The bendix starts at the end of the spindle - and runs towards the starter motor - so entering the flywheel gear teeth 'from behind'...... Let's see a picture of yours.....

[hanvyj]

Rather embarrassingly... the battery was too flat to spin it fast enough.

Coupled with my faulty battery charger that lead me to believe it was charged...

[bmcecosse]

Well done - we all learn from these experiences.