Practically Classics Forum

So, the "new engine" is in the Jag. its all connected. its all ready to go. However the starter motor wont engage, it just spins. then when it does eventually catch it just jams solid. I then have to remove the starter motor. (no amount of banging with a hammer or rocking in 4th gear will free it.)

Battery is fine, does the same thing when starter is directly connected, i have also added my boster pack and the same thing happens. Engine has 2 earth straps, just to be sure. Both starters spin freely on the bench connected to the jump pack.

I have two old starter motors both are quite well used both have the same problem.

Please can you take a look at the photos below.

Is the cog here to worn (photo 3)? Its a re-faced fly wheel on a completely rebuilt engine (I have removed the plugs to remove drag).

Could it be the engine is quite "tight" after the rebuild and i will now need a more powerfull starter motor?

I cant work out how to remove the cog either? The book says just remove the split pin on the end of the shaft... No split pin, i cant see how i get this off?

No split pin, how do i remove?


how the hell do i get this off?



Is this too worn? Is this causing my issue? Its a new engine and a re-faced fly wheel.


Please help i have spent 2 days looking at this and got no further, should I just buy a high torque starter motor?

This is a bit odd, so you have almost eliminated a starter problem by swaping them over and bench testing, the battery isnt at fault as you have boosted it.
So is it the original flywheel and ring gear.? does the engine turn over OK with a spanner/socket.?

jimmyybob wrote:This is a bit odd, so you have almost eliminated a starter problem by swaping them over and bench testing, the battery isnt at fault as you have boosted it.
So is it the original flywheel and ring gear.? does the engine turn over OK with a spanner/socket.?

Welcome to my world..... I believe its the original flywheel (re-faced), there is of course the possibility the machine shop mixed them up! The engine turned ok when I set the timing... I guess i could count the teeth.... I need to find my book to double check, i think mine should have 104.

This is why I think the worn cogs on the starter are causing the issue? But maybe they are shaped like that deliberately (with the edge cut off)? I think i am heading towards buying a new starter (high torque )

I would expect a certain amount of lead on the teeth to help them locate, you could try and tidy them up with a file...you have nothing to loose.
Also i would definitely count the teeth as you say when it does engage it still wont turn.

i hate to say it but can you try a bump start...

rich. wrote:i hate to say it but can you try a bump start...

me on my own, two tonnes of Jag on to a gravel drive... I'll leave that as my very, very last option!!!!!


Plan.
1) turn engine on socket. Assuming i can buy a socket big enough locally.
2) count teeth.

3) assuming both are ok, buy high gear starter motor.

S-type - agree with plan 1 & 2 but not sure about 3 because it seems to me that the problem isn't tha your starter doesn't have enough torque, so a high-torque starter motor is only going to have the same problem, but will just jam with more force?

Basically, there are (or have been) thousands of these engines spinning quite happily with Bendix starter motors, you need to find out why yours isn't and go from there, especially as high-torque motors are not cheap! I reckon that if the engine is so stiff it needs a high-torque motor to turn it, then it's the stiffness that you need to address, not the power of the motor.

Anyway, start with 1 & 2 as you say and see what's what. A really strange problem this, I've given it a lot of thought and can't think of anything better to tell you, of course it's always more difficult when you're remote from the actual patient and can't get a direct feel for what's going on. Only other thing I can say is to wish you well with it, yours is a great project and will be a beauty when finished - and nice to see you back on the forum mate!

Oh - and moved this to "technical" section as that's what it is.

Cheers!

s-type wrote:2) count teeth.

Try a lump of plasticine or similar.

A high torque starter isn't that expencive. Mine was about £110, it looks like one for yours is £165 from www.ratsport.co.uk.
If you can't find a socket to fit your crank why not put the car in gear, jack up one rear wheel and see if you can turn the engine over that way? If you have two people it would let you count the teeth but even if there is only one of you it would let you feel for tight spots.

TerryG wrote:A high torque starter isn't that expencive. Mine was about £110, it looks like one for yours is £165 from http://www.ratsport.co.uk.
If you can't find a socket to fit your crank why not put the car in gear, jack up one rear wheel and see if you can turn the engine over that way? If you have two people it would let you count the teeth but even if there is only one of you it would let you feel for tight spots.

Cheers all, i think i am there.

1) got a (loaned) spanner on and the engine turns freely.
2) 104 teeth present and correct.

So, just ordered a starter light starter (high torque) motor. £161 +vat. It will be delivered tomorrow. I spoke to Autolec and they don't list one for my car, only a E-type, but they will send me that as it should fit (Jaguar part numbers are the same), if not they will refund me! - Result.

Thanks all. What a annoying use of 3 days!