16 replies to this topic

[charliedurrant]

Hi,

It's been a while since I've posted, as, well, I've been using my mini and everything has been working! That is until this morning. I was driving along and I stalled the car, then I tried to start it and the starter just span without cranking the engine.

I have a pre-engaged starter linked to the correct flywheel. Of course its raining and cold and before I start taking things apart I just wondered if anyone had any pointers. Info on pre-engaged starters is not so varse as for the intertia starters. The general consensus is that the solenoid is not doing as its told.

Thanks in advance.

Charlie

[Carlos W]

How's your battery?

If the battery is ok you could take the starter out, give it a good clean and put it back in!

Also check battery terminals are clean and tight and earth points are clean!

[finch661]

tap the starter with a hammer or bit of wood. The spinning suggests that the collar/drive isnt actually engaging with the flywheel. You could always remove it and inspect the motor. My mg midget had this problem, usually a tap worked. In the end even that didnt work, so i bought a new one.

Second hand inertia starters arent expensive

[Carlos W]

Second hand inertia starters arent expensive

I've got some in the garage

[finch661]

Second hand inertia starters arent expensive

I've got some in the garage

Do you collect them I went through a period of having lots of HS4 carbs.. i had about 10... no idea why

I think I paid £5 for my last starter motor a year ago!

[Carlos W]

Second hand inertia starters arent expensive

I've got some in the garage

Do you collect them I went through a period of having lots of HS4 carbs.. i had about 10... no idea why

I think I paid £5 for my last starter motor a year ago!

They just seem to be in job lots, and posting them makes them UN-economical to sell!
The op is only 20 miles away so if he needs one I'm sure we could sort something!

They're untested tho

[craig 1010cc]

tap the starter with a hammer or bit of wood. The spinning suggests that the collar/drive isnt actually engaging with the flywheel. You could always remove it and inspect the motor. My mg midget had this problem, usually a tap worked. In the end even that didnt work, so i bought a new one.

Second hand inertia starters arent expensive

The later pre-engage are different and would need a different ring gear on the flywheel to swap over.

Does sound like the solinoide (sp?) isn't kicking. check the connections on it and giving it a clean out with electrical contact cleaner could help. It is possible that you've got a bald spot on the ring gear, try sticking it in gear and rocking it forward a bit to turn the engine over a bit and then try again.

[finch661]

whoops, my bad. seemed to have glossed over the pre-engaged part of the post. still work taking it out and clean it up!

[tiger99]

You need to take the starter out and inspect the drive pinion, and its operating lever etc, as it may be broken. The solenoid "should" push the pinion into engagement before closing the electrical circuit to the motor, if not, something in the mechanism is broken, which may be obvioius when you take it out. The solenoid is obviously moving all the way to the point where the electrical circuit is complete, but without the pinion moving into engagement.

Have a look at the ring gear while the motor is out, in case it has lost some teeth, which could also cause the problem.

[charliedurrant]

Thanks everyone, really appreciated. A tap did it and when it stops raining I'll take it off and have a look and do as suggested.

Charlie

[Moggyton]

I had this problem, gave the battery a good charge and it started fine after that.

[finch661]

A tap did it and when it stops raining I'll take it off and have a look and do as suggested.

Charlie

Does sound like a sticky starter, def take it out and clean and bench test, I think haynes describes how to strip down the solenoid on the motor?

[Ethel]

What Tiger says - it's called pre-engaged for a reason. The motor shouldn't spin until the gears are engaged. If it does there's a fault that's allowing the solenoid to close without pulling the pinion in to mesh, or the motor's splines are stuffed. Simplest is the starter is loose on the transfer case.

[purplesuit1]

Mine was doing this exact same thing. Took it out, cleaned and lubed it up, and now it works perfectly.

[ACDodd]

Per engaged starters also have clutches, they do fail meaning just the symptom you describe. Usually not possible for the motor to start before the pinion is engaged as the draw bar needs to travel to its full extent to close the switch contacts. My money is on the starter pinion clutch.

Ac