Broke it - day before nats. Starter motor

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Fri Jul 26, 13 6:25 am

Typical.

C'est la vie... Came home last night on a tow rope.

Flooded it whilst cold out-and-about (that's another story) and as usual assumed it was an orange box (which upset me, 'cause that should be fixed. Turns out it was fine and just my paranoia).
However, in the course of an hours huffing and puffing at the roadside, during which tried to start a few times (making it worse

I now know).

So - diagnosed now, cranking away happily and suddenly there is a 'click' and starter motor stops. That's it - game over. From happy to click - and now click is all I get.

Managed to drag her home (miracle) so at least she is somewhere to be fixed. Will pop the motor off tonight and see. Hopefully something popped and hittable (hoping for either something jammed or solenoidy). We'll see.

Timing is epic though isn't it ? Gotta laugh...might cry.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Jul 26, 13 7:30 am

Lots of these after-market starters fail.

They are usually Bananarama!.

We had had about 4 go wrong - everything from the casings shattering on high compression engines to the dreaded "Click".

Another guy at Avon Park found that when he took his apart none of it is greased internally and they just seize up - hence the "Click" - Soleniod not properly engaging.

He cleaned it up, greased it fully and it started working again..........

terryr · Post by **terryr** » Fri Jul 26, 13 7:54 am

I got a mini starter if you need that specifically..im in kettering.your welcome to borrow it

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Fri Jul 26, 13 8:37 am

Ah. Good advice. Assumed 'new and japanese' meant 'will run forever'.
It was a VERY sudden failure - crankcrankcrankcrank-CLICK- and then nothing (just the click).

Very kind offer of the loaner - But I'll pop this one off first and see. Can still go to nats without car, just less showing off

Will pop her off, and maybe can free up. We'll see. Got 2 chances as my dad used to say...

db · Post by db » Fri Jul 26, 13 8:49 am

Often the solenoid contacts get dirty and then won't hold. Fingers crossed it might be a simple fix!
Good luck

sinny · Post by **sinny** » Fri Jul 26, 13 9:22 am

I'm sure it will be a simple fix Morgan. Good luck mate.

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Fri Jul 26, 13 10:12 pm

Ah well fellas - I tried. Given up for the night.

Pin was stuck out. Loosened motor, wobbled, it popped back - but still no joy.
Got motor off (inside the headers, which need dropping to get the ****** out). Wire it up again and fired it in situ. Pin pops out to engage, motor spins. Wound engine over by hand just to rotate it a bit - all good.

So I seem to have an unstuck engine, a starter motor that pops the pin and spins as it should - but a symptom like the battery is flat (it aint). Gonna bolt it back up in the morning in case my spinning it has indeed freed it up. Otherwise getting a bit stuck - gonna have to drop it out and try another one I guess (which is a right pain). C'est la vie...

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Mon Jul 29, 13 9:15 am

earth strap

or negative connector at the battery

try a jump lead from starter case direct to battery negative

easy way to prove its actually busted and not an earthing problems

this smacks of a contact that has been marginal and the heat of running the starter has made it get more and more resistant

Dave

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Jul 29, 13 9:21 am

Herewith is Dave 999's shortest ever post. You have been honoured

(Good to see you both at the track!)

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Tue Jul 30, 13 8:26 am

I'm always honoured with a dave999 update. I didnt get one at the pod - he was munching a sausage roll I think so seemed better to leave him to it... That offset brainwave he has needs fuel from somewhere right ?

-------------

Marginal update. 2 more nights of fun - still dead. Here's the kicker -
- Starter motor now 100% fixed (phew!).
- All 8 plug verified to be firing and sparking (phew!).
- Fuel present (too much probably)
- Air (was breathing it.)

Result ? rrrRRRrrRRRrrRRRrrRRRrrrRRR - nothing. Just doesnt wanna know. Flooded up again. Cleaned it all out, dired the pugs, vented the cylinders, cleaned etc etc. Nothing. Tries to cough a little like its gonna fire, but just floods up.

I left the (gleaming and sparking!) plugs out overnight to let everything dry thoroughly and will try tonight.

Just doesnt make sense this one. Wondering if carb prob and something twanged/broke/ruptured and flooding it.

PS - It aint timing - that hasnt moved (at least externally) so I am making the assumption the spark is happening at the right time still.

PPS - You gotta laugh really. 8 months making my front end Sweeeeet (even Roger liked it. I was suitably honoured!) and then I break the noisy bit

As I say, c'est la vie. Will sort it and keep updated just in case anyones interested what it turns out to be...

Adrian Worman · Post by **Adrian Worman** » Tue Jul 30, 13 9:14 am

Check the float level, possibly have a stuck needle and seat.
Is there any fuel leaking around the carb?

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Tue Jul 30, 13 9:25 am

Mornin' Ade !
Nah - cant see any. Checked the unions and the base plate. Stinks of fuel after a long old crank though. (and plugs came out wet) - yet sparks on all 8.

Am running on the assumption that "It flooded badly and needed to dry thoroughly" and hopefully magic pixies will have fixed it by the time I get home

Adrian Worman · Post by **Adrian Worman** » Tue Jul 30, 13 9:37 am

If it is leaking thru the inlet needle it wont always spew out the side of the carb, could just dribble thru the primaries and start filling up the intake.
Just remove the air cleaner and check it.
It is a Holley on there isnt it?

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Tue Jul 30, 13 10:11 am

morgan wrote:I'm always honoured with a dave999 update. I didnt get one at the pod - he was munching a sausage roll I think so seemed better to leave him to it... That offset brainwave he has needs fuel from somewhere right ?
-------------

yeah sorry mate was eating and meant to get over....

was very impolite of me.

can i suggest you just fill the inlet with "damp start"

and don't touch the peddle

see if it starts. proves it runs n that

i.e conclusive proof of "just" flooding

Dave

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Tue Jul 30, 13 6:45 pm

Vroooom !

I hardly dare tell you what it was. 5 hours of diagnostics including 2hrs at roadside. Terrifying tow home. Lost evenings etc etc....

I *might* tell you all tomorrow... Clue - it WAS flooding...