Starter motor
Posted By : John Davies, 15-Dec-2003, 07:24pm
Ben,
I think you have two problems. If an HD battery, even via jump leads 'whirrs' your starter as it should, when the car battery can't do more than chug it, then your car battery is getting too old, possibly has a bad cell. Check the state of the acid when charging - are there little hydrogen bubbles from all cells? A bad one won't.
The other problem - disengagement - is related to the state of the Bendix drive on the business end of the starter and the starter ring around the flywheel. If the latter is worn, the starter cog can slip off, but more likely, the Bendix drive is fouled up with old oil and clutch dust. Remove the starter, inspect the drive, clean and lubricate with graphite NOT oil or grease. Graphite powder is as rare as unobtanium these days, but shave some from the lead of a soft pencil.
Hope that helps!
John
I think you have two problems. If an HD battery, even via jump leads 'whirrs' your starter as it should, when the car battery can't do more than chug it, then your car battery is getting too old, possibly has a bad cell. Check the state of the acid when charging - are there little hydrogen bubbles from all cells? A bad one won't.
The other problem - disengagement - is related to the state of the Bendix drive on the business end of the starter and the starter ring around the flywheel. If the latter is worn, the starter cog can slip off, but more likely, the Bendix drive is fouled up with old oil and clutch dust. Remove the starter, inspect the drive, clean and lubricate with graphite NOT oil or grease. Graphite powder is as rare as unobtanium these days, but shave some from the lead of a soft pencil.
Hope that helps!
John
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Starter motor
Posted By : James Carruthers, 15-Dec-2003, 07:36pm
The best place to get graphite from is an art shop... a graphite stick... get a big chunky one... usually about a centimetre in diameter - a couple of quid at most - and much better than hacking up a normal pencil...
Now, who want's to suggest the right grade? HB? B?
See... there is a use in me doing an "arty" degreee...
James
69 Signal Red Spit
Starter motor
Posted By : William Davies, 15-Dec-2003, 08:16pm
Hi Ben,
Chances are there's nothing wrong with your starter motor. The starter pinion is designed to engage until the engine is turning under it's own power, then the pinion is thrown out of engagment by the engine's momentum. What you are seeing is an engine which doesn't fire well, but picks up enough speed to throw out the pinion. Replace the starter and you're likely to see the same problem. Until you fix your compression issues, this is what's going to happen,
Cheers,
Bill.
Chances are there's nothing wrong with your starter motor. The starter pinion is designed to engage until the engine is turning under it's own power, then the pinion is thrown out of engagment by the engine's momentum. What you are seeing is an engine which doesn't fire well, but picks up enough speed to throw out the pinion. Replace the starter and you're likely to see the same problem. Until you fix your compression issues, this is what's going to happen,
Cheers,
Bill.
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Starter motor
Posted By : Ben Ferguson, 16-Dec-2003, 00:13am
Thanks all
The starter motor appears to be a relatively new reconditioned one,
still got QC hologram sticker on it. When I replaced the gearbox about a month ago the bellhousing was covered in thick clutch gunge, which I duly
cleaned off, and the starter looked fine...but then again I wasn't paying much attention to that, just about getting the damn thing back on so I
could get to college the next day! The battery looks fairly new aswell, but I dont know how long it was stood for before I bought the car, I'l get
it checked anyhow. Think we might be seeing an engine swap in the new year though - I know of someone with a nice spit engine and all syncro box
that I can strip down and have a good look at while mine is still on the road
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Starter motor
Posted By : Ben Ferguson, 16-Dec-2003, 00:15am
Thanks all The starter motor appears to be a relatively new reconditioned one,
still got QC hologram sticker on it. When I replaced the gearbox about a month ago the bellhousing was covered in thick clutch gunge, which I duly
cleaned off, and the starter looked fine...but then again I wasn't paying much attention to that, just about getting the damn thing back on so I
could get to college the next day! The battery looks fairly new aswell, but I dont know how long it was stood for before I bought the car, I'l get
it checked anyhow. Think we might be seeing an engine swap in the new year though - I know of someone with a nice spit engine and all syncro box
that I can strip down and have a good look at while mine is still on the road!
Thanks again everyone
Ben 68 13/60 conv - top down in sub zero temps - the only way!-
Starter motor
Posted By : Ben Ferguson, 16-Dec-2003, 10:14pm
Found the stuff I need - Super hyper mega power booster dooper flame grilled engine cold start in a can by car plan - just tried it now fired 1st time, no fuss, marvelous Must have been a fuel problem then, not electric 
Ben
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