dodgy starter motor

Dear font of all knowledge that is alt.fan.landrover,

My (series 3 2 1/4 petrol 12v) starter motor sometimes just spins without
engaging when I turn the key, normally turning the key again solves the
problem but recently it has been getting a lot worse.

Today it took about 50 goes to get it to start.

On saturday I will be taking the starter motor off to have a look and
fix/destroy it. Before I do I was wondering if anyone could give me any
advice?

Is it:
(a) just needs a bit of grease in the right place. (Fingers crossed)
(b) time for a new starter motor
(c) just replace .............. and it will work
(d) smack it with a big hammer and it will work (my favourite way of fixing
things)

Thanks

Nigel

--
nigel@leginDOTorg
1979 Lightweight

Nigel wrote:
> Dear font of all knowledge that is alt.fan.landrover,
>
> My (series 3 2 1/4 petrol 12v) starter motor sometimes just spins
> without engaging when I turn the key, normally turning the key again
> solves the problem but recently it has been getting a lot worse.
>
> Today it took about 50 goes to get it to start.
>
> On saturday I will be taking the starter motor off to have a look and
> fix/destroy it. Before I do I was wondering if anyone could give me
> any advice?
>
> Is it:
> (a) just needs a bit of grease in the right place. (Fingers crossed)
> (b) time for a new starter motor
> (c) just replace .............. and it will work
> (d) smack it with a big hammer and it will work (my favourite way of
> fixing things)
>
> Thanks
>
> Nigel

Hi Nigel

Its probably just the inertia bit on the end in need of a good clean, use a
solvent type cleaner then lube it with wd40 or similar.
Hope this helps
Icky

Nigel wrote:

> Dear font of all knowledge that is alt.fan.landrover,
>
> My (series 3 2 1/4 petrol 12v) starter motor sometimes just spins without
> engaging when I turn the key, normally turning the key again solves the
> problem but recently it has been getting a lot worse.
>
> Today it took about 50 goes to get it to start.
>
> On saturday I will be taking the starter motor off to have a look and
> fix/destroy it. Before I do I was wondering if anyone could give me any
> advice?
>
> Is it:
> (a) just needs a bit of grease in the right place. (Fingers crossed)
> (b) time for a new starter motor
> (c) just replace .............. and it will work
> (d) smack it with a big hammer and it will work (my favourite way of
> fixing things)
>
> Thanks
>
> Nigel
>
It will just be the inertia setup gummed or rusted up. Remove the starter
and you will find the pinion moves on a spiral spline. It needs to be very
free to move on this, against the light spring. Thoroughly clean the spiral
spline both on the shaft and inside the pinion, using wire brush or a
suitable solvent depending on whether it is gummed or rusted up. You can
probably do an adequate job without taking it apart, although it is better
to take it apart to do it. DO NOT put any grease or oil of any kind on it,
or you will be repeating the job in the near future. Instead, rub the
surfaces with powdered graphite.
The problem will be made worse by a sluggish starter, whether caused by the
starter itself or poor connections or battery. There is a slight chance
that the problem is damaged teeth on the flywheel or pinion, but this
should be obvious when you have the starter off, and in any case usually
make themselves kown by horrible noises rather than just spinning.
JD

Thanks JD and Icky, thats what I'm hoping it will be was just checking to
make sure it wasn't something else.

Nigel
--
nigel@leginDOTorg
1979 Lightwieght