Clattering clutch calamity!

[chrisryder]

can you jack it up and put it on stands? that's the only way i can see. unless you do what i did. and forget to tighten it up the last time you put the starter back in. then that bolt just falls out on the motorway

[bmcecosse]

You do need to go below to get to it - drive the wheel up on a curb - or a wood block or two (best not to use bricks) - I never fitted that bolt - the top bolt alone always worked fine for me.

[Alec]

Hello BMCE,

"I never fitted that bolt - the top bolt alone always worked fine for me."

And I thought you were an engineer?

Alec

[bmcecosse]

I am!! And I believe in minimal effort too. Top bolt only never let the starter work loose on my car - and made for quick change when required. Same on Minis - one bolt for starter -and half the clutch cover (known as wok these days apparently) bolts not fitted where access is difficult. Again - no problems !

[Alec]

Hello BMCE,

surprising that it worked like that for so long as it will be misaligned. It won't work on your TR for as long as that's a pre engaged starter.

Alec

[bmcecosse]

Ha! The TR7 starter is quite a bit larger and is extremely difficult to get at...... ask me how I know...... And yes it still has all it's bolts. The Minor and Mini starters both fit snuggly into their mounts - the one bolt seemed to work fine for me !

[millerman]

Louise, use a long extension and ratchet to undo bottom bolt, it is doable from the engine compartment and please replace with TWO bolts

[rayofleamington]

never fitted that bolt - the top bolt alone always worked fine for me.

the more learn about your tips, the more I'm glad that we don't share the same roads ;-)

One wheel up on a kerb is probably enough for thinner people to get to the gearbox and starter bolts (I used to get away with it), but not great for those with... erm I think I'll drop that subject.

Both bolts every time for me - I've had a starter fall off (when a prop UJ wore out the entire car shook enough to make things fall off). When I stopped to find out what the noise was I had trouble re-starting, but managed to find one of the bolts and held it in place to start up..

[bmcecosse]

So - it was probably hanging in there by the one bolt for quite some time - until that too fell out.

[dalebrignall]

remember to disconnect the battery as well louise saftey first

[LouiseM]

One wheel up on a kerb is probably enough for thinner people to get to the gearbox and starter bolts (I used to get away with it), but not great for those with... erm I think I'll drop that subject.

Problem is I can fit under the car without it being on the kerb but I have a long standing shoulder injury which means that I might not be able to able to get at the bottom bolt and undo it. Will give it a go at the weekend and see how I get on. If the worst comes to the worst though I'll have to send it to a garage as the MOT runs out this week & the tax runs out at the end of the month and I don't want to have to SORN it

remember to disconnect the battery as well louise saftey first

I've already disconnected the battery Dale

[LouiseM]

Update: I popped into the local garage where my car was booked in for the MOT today and described the problem to them. They have now taken a quick look (and listened to the awful noise it's making!) and their initial view is that it's likely to be a gearbox rather than clutch problem. So I decided not to tackle the starter motor and my car has been taken off to the workshop. I haven't had any previous gearbox problems but I'll know more during the week once they've had time to give it a proper inspection. They've worked on the car before so hopefully it shouldn't take them too long to find out what the problem is.

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[bmcecosse]

Why would it be the gearbox?

[dalebrignall]

hope the bill is not too big

[rayofleamington]

So - it was probably hanging in there by the one bolt for quite some time - until that too fell out.

I expect if I'd only used one bolt it would have fallen off when I had the prop issue and not 4 weeks /1500 miles later.

[LouiseM]

hope the bill is not too big

Thanks Dale, should hear from the garage tomorrow. Let's hope that the problem has been caused by something easy and simple to fix, like a missing starter motor bolt

[bmcecosse]

[LouiseM]

Well turns out that it was the gearbox after all - bits of cog/teeth came out when the oil was drained from the box. As far as I'm aware it was the original box so I guess it was suffering from metal fatigue and something has just broken up. It was in 2nd gear when the noise started, and I kept it in 2nd to drive home (with no problems), so I'm wondering if maybe 3rd or 4th gear could be the problem as I was able to engage 1st & 2nd gear OK when driving it onto the pick up truck.

A reconditioned box is going to be fitted, and then it's having an MOT, so fingers crossed it gets through with no more problems. So unfortunately quite a big bill Dale!

[bmcecosse]

Bits of cogs always come out - I'm far from convinced...... have they taken the side cover off and looked inside ? The only gears that engage/disengage are first and reverse - the bits of cogs come from these gears. 2/3/4 are always engaged - just 'selected' when required. Did they even bother to investigate the starter motor theory?

[dalebrignall]

sorry to here that louise,at least ruby will be reliable for a good few years ,myrtle is having a new fuel tank next month