Old girl won’t start!

Bit of help please chaps, the normally 100% reliable old girl has decided that she doesn’t want to go to work today and won’t start. Battery is fine, earth from battery to gearbox looks good, wiring all looks normal, but nothing on the key! Anything more obvious to check (and how), before looking at ignition switch and starter. Starter on the tractor ( actual tractor) went yesterday, what are the fookin chances!
Disco 200tdi engine

When you say “nothing on the key” ?
No dash lights?
Or just no starter action?
Do you hear any clicking sounds or pumps working?

I suppose a good check of all the fuses would be a place to start looking.

marjon said:

When you say “nothing on the key” ?
No dash lights?
Or just no starter action?
Do you hear any clicking sounds or pumps working?

I suppose a good check of all the fuses would be a place to start looking.

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Dash lights are fine, just nothing in the start position, all fuses are good. I suspect starter or ignition feed, but I’ve called out a mobile spanner monkey for this afternoon as he’ll actually know what he’s doing! Cheers

Sounds like you maybe on the right track, lots of things to check before spending out on a starter.
Hope your mobile guy gets it sorted.

Please post the outcome as it’s always nicer to hear the problem solved and what it was no matter how small.
It helps peeps later if they search with same problem.

Checked the small wire with a spade connection on the engine side of the starter solenoid?

marjon said:

Sounds like you maybe on the right track, lots of things to check before spending out on a starter.
Hope your mobile guy gets it sorted.

Please post the outcome as it’s always nicer to hear the problem solved and what it was no matter how small.
It helps peeps later if they search with same problem.

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Hopefully he’ll sort it, don’t fancy paying to have the starter replaced, looks like a bit of a fiddly job. Will post outcome.

blue beasty said:

Checked the small wire with a spade connection on the engine side of the starter solenoid?

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Yeah, checked that BB, it looks alright. I just need someone who knows what they’re doing to trace it back and do the fault-finding, electrics are not my strong point ( don’t know what is to be honest ).

bluedog333 said:

Yeah, checked that BB, it looks alright. I just need someone who knows what they’re doing to trace it back and do the fault-finding, electrics are not my strong point ( don’t know what is to be honest ).

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You can check if it's an ignition feed problem by using a length of wire from battery positive and touched to the small spade connection on the solenoid.

If the battery and h/d starter circuit are OK it will spin and the ignition switch is the likely suspect.

blue beasty said:

You can check if it's an ignition feed problem by using a length of wire from battery positive and touched to the small spade connection on the solenoid.

If the battery and h/d starter circuit are OK it will spin and the ignition switch is the likely suspect.

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Thanks, I was thinking something along those lines, but wasn’t sure if I’d blow the whole thing up! I’ve left it for now as I needed to get to work, will update with what the mech has to say

Re: the thread title.
I have a wife like that
I hope you get to the root of your problem.

Having gone through a few “is it the starter issues” over my years and fitted a few starter solenoids I favour the ones with the little push button, much cleaner than touching a spanner across the terminals
They don’t seem to fit them anymore could get you out the Pooh if the solenoid or supply ever went iffy.

Hope for a. Good cheap outcome on this 1.

DanClarke said:

Re: the thread title.
I have a wife like that
I hope you get to the root of your problem.

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I’ve got the opposite problem, mine won’t stop ( nagging that is ). Actually, I should ask her what the problem is, she acts like she knows fookin everything anyway.

Well, starter motor’s fooked. Don’t have time to get it repaired so I had to fork out for a new Bosch unit. Glad I didn’t have to take it out, it was a right ball ache, now he’s got to do the reverse tomorrow, I’m going to leave him a swear jar, should easily pay for the new starter.

New starter’s in and she starts up fine, only issue is it sounds like it takes half a second or so to disengage, if that makes sense? The mechanic who finished the job said it just needs to wear in a little, but I’m not convinced. I’ll be speaking to the boss, who did the majority of the work, tomorrow and see what he reckons.

At least you can get to work in the morning
See what boss says, any warranty?

marjon said:

At least you can get to work in the morning
See what boss says, any warranty?

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It’s a brand new motor, so that’s guaranteed, I haven’t paid for the job yet, so I’m sure he’ll be happy to help! He seems like a good, knowledgeable guy, so hopefully he’ll sort it out without issue...

bluedog333 said:

New starter’s in and she starts up fine, only issue is it sounds like it takes half a second or so to disengage, if that makes sense? The mechanic who finished the job said it just needs to wear in a little, but I’m not convinced. I’ll be speaking to the boss, who did the majority of the work, tomorrow and see what he reckons.

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not sure that's right changed mine and it starts ,no half a second to disengage an expert will be along shortly

raisingveg said:

not sure that's right changed mine and it starts ,no half a second to disengage an expert will be along shortly

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I’ve read about the need for shimming when mating a new motor to an old flywheel. I’m going to have a look at it tomorrow to make sure all the bolts are done up and things are in the right place.

bluedog333 said:

I’ve read about the need for shimming when mating a new motor to an old flywheel. I’m going to have a look at it tomorrow to make sure all the bolts are done up and things are in the right place.

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i havent heard of that ,you dont shim flywheels ,

jamesmartin said:

i havent heard of that ,you dont shim flywheels ,

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Shim the starter, I having heard it done on a Landy, but have read of it being done to rectify the symptoms being shown.