Starter nut on top of the shaft that keeps the spring retainer and bendix in place

[Pain'n'da'boat]

The nut on top of my brand new starter popped off while I was crappie fishing this weekend and caused the bendix to grind on my fly wheel...I have a new bendix gear, spring, retainer and nut and plan to rebuild it tonight.....

Do I tighten the nut as tight as I can so that this doesn't happen again?

When it came in from EBay the nut was turn-able by hand, I simply hand tightened it down...which makes no sense now looking back....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Starter nut on top of the shaft that keeps the spring retainer and bendix in plac

That nut is a "nyloc" style which should have a nylon insert in it which serves as a lock to prevent it from unscrewing. Yes, it needs to be tightened down. Tight as possible is NOT the way to do it lest you wish to strip it. Tight - means until it stops turning.