I place the starter in my press using a 1/2 inch galvanized pipe coupling with a section removed by milling or a hack saw would do. Place the coupling between the bendix and ram compress the spring and pop the ring out though the opening and release. I must have 20 early starters with dates. I have been changing ring gears and converting to late starters that do have a shaft support. Late covers have a rounded rather than flat end to the cover and come with a rubber plug. Steve (CTR)

The Bendix tool is a pretty simple device.  Imagine two Letter “C”s with two bolt/nut assemblies that pull them together..... kinda like a tiny McPherson strut compressor.  Pretty sure you can buy them from the usual suspects; I managed to borrow one. You won’t need it very often.  However, without the tool, you will struggle (based on personal experience .... that spring is pretty tough..

once you compress the spring it’s a few minute job to pop off the old gear and install the new one.  I didn’t bother to buy new as damage is pretty obvious and there are usually lots of old starters around to choose perfectly re-usable bits from.

IME, most cars leave the hole in the end of the bendix cover open.  If you’re fussy it shouldn’t be hard to find a small rubber bung to close the hole.

cheers, Ian

Yeah, new is what I'm thinking too - it's not very old, but I don't want to sweat that the shaft has been bent/pitted or gouged somewhere.

What bout the hole in the housing?  Is there not something to cover that?  I don't see it as a part, and most google pics show it open, which I find kinda hard to believe. 

Unless there's a reason not to, I'll find a plug/bung that fits.

Scott

Short answer= NO = nothing supports the end of the starter drive assembly.

Bendix replacement.   I have tried once before to get the circlip off + release the spring and take a Bendix off one starter but I could not win .
 There apparently is a special tool to compress the spring and do this but I dont know.

 Be sure you can get yours apart before diving into just the bendix replacement.

 I would consider replacing the whole starter= Go for new all the way = 2 mounting bolts + 1 Powerwire. you're done.
   Original starter's gonna be worn in other ways and places outside of just the Bendix assembly.

Hey all,

Pulling out the starter after having issues with cranking the engine found that the bendix had broken up (gear's not shredded, teeth on flywheel are good, so got lucky there).

After getting the starter out, I noticed that there's a hole in the clutch housing (see picture). 
 
1)  Is this supposed to have a bearing to support the outboard end of the starter, and if no...
2)  Is there a cover or seal that's supposed to go there to prevent debris from getting into the starter/flywheel area?

A follow on, if the bendix broke apart (I've fished most/all of the pieces out of the clutch housing), can I just replace the Bendix (https://www.minimania.com/part/TLB111/Classic-Mini-Starter-Bendix-Not-Pre-engaged) or is it best to replace the entire starter?  ( don't detect any runout on the starter shaft, so believe the damage was limited to the bendix.  If just replacing this part is advised, any instructions for doing so?

Thanks!

Scott