Starter motors

[JU]

I have just completed a dry sump conversion on my year 2000 SLR.

On starting the engine , i now have what i think is a problem with the starter motor. The starter intermitantly will not engage, when it does

engage, the engine fires up, there then follows a very loud high pitched

metalic screaching noise ( no it`s not her in door`s) which lasts for approx

3-5 seconds, and then disapears.

Does this sound like a starter motor fault,?how long should a starter last

(cars has only done 6K miles). Any one got any sensible suggestions

JU.

 

[F355GTS]

Ju

 

Does sound like starter and maybe it's not seated correctly? ie if it diesn;t always engage then sounds like the starter gear is not engaging on the flywheel correctly and when it does it's getting stuck and not releasing so the Engine is turning the starter hence the screeching.

 

Does the car drive OK, did you have any problems getting the gearbox (bellhousing) to mount to the engine? I'm assuming this is all in line.

 

Assuming the above is OK It's possible the spacer between the starter and bellhousing maybe askew, try removing the starter and reseating

 

Mark

[JU]

Mark, thanks for reply.

I am unable to drive the car as back end is in bits at the moment, so can`t tell if it drives ok.

I have allready removed the starter and tried reseating once it doesn`t

seem to have made any difference, i`ll have another go at it tommorow

night. Thanks.

Ju.

[Gridgway]

try taking the solenoid off the starter and lubricating the um, well thingy, piston, whatsit, hmmm, not sure of the technical term!

 

Graham

 

but it worked for me

[stevefoster]

Urm, Most manuals say do not lube the thingy.

It should be clean and lube free. Lube can cause it to stick.

 

/Steve

 

My racing pics, 7 DIY, race prep. Updated often here

Hants (North) and Berkshire area club site

here

 

[Gridgway]

just shows what the manuals know then!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoops.

Graham

[JU]

Thanks all for the advice, I spoke to a seven owning friend last night,

he also suggested cleaning the solenoid, which i have now done, also checking for alignment, reasembled, fired it up and still the bloody thing

is screaching, as before.

Anyone got any more ideas? Help!

Ju.

[F355GTS]

Ju

 

Dont know but might you need a different spacer for the dry sump bellhousing... I'm still hanging on the alignment theory!

 

As the starter is bolted directly to the bellhousing maybe the spacer is the wrong depth meaning the starter cog is firing in too far or not enough?

 

after that I'm running out of ideas, perhaps borrow another starter to see if the problems persist

 

BTW the spacer side face on mine with larger race starter is 22mm

 

Mark

[J.R.]

Pinion sprag (one way) clutch

[Graham Perry]

Mine has done this three or four times and its always the same thing. The back of the casing comes loose through vibration. You could only move it a few mm either way but it was enough for the internals to touch and make a horrible noise. Studlock on the long screwbolts helped but wasn't the complete answer. Mines a cross-flow but most starters are similar in construction so its worth checking that the casing isn't moving.

[JU]

Mark, thanks for the suggestions, i will check out the spacer size and

hopefully see if i can borrow a starter to try in the car.

 

J.R. whats a pinion sprag, (one way clutch ) ?

 

Thanks Graham.

Ju.

[JU]

SORTED!

I think it was an alignment problem, i removed the starter once again

cleaned the mating faces and reassembled,tightening the 2 bolts, 1 nut

more evenly, easing the starter away from the engine block gently,

fired her up, no screaching!

Thanks all.

Ju.

[Jason Plato]

😬 😬