Starter Motor Maintenance

[brother_morris]

Hello there,

I need to get the starter motor out for some essential maintenance but think the brakes servo might be in the way?

Any ideas of the best way of going about this?

Wondered about taking the oil filter out to get some extra space and taking it out the bottom of the car?

Have uploaded a photo to show how it is at the moment.

Any help would be much appreciated![frame][/frame]

[mike.perry]

Who needs a starter motor when you have a starting handle?

[brother_morris]

This is true...

Let's hope I don't stall on a roundabout!

[bmcecosse]

Get rid of the daft brake servo......... The oil filter will be v messy - and the dizzy will still be in the way. The starter can be removed from below.....

[brother_morris]

Right, had a go at this this afternoon. Really didn't go too well.
Had access to a pit so planned to take it out from underneath. Expecting it to be quite straightforward.
Bolts came out dead easy, but because of the position of the brake servo there is no possibility for movement either left of right.

No matter how hard I tried I couldn't find a way to get the starter free. Without being able to angle it left or right just a little means that I couldn't get the it out from below. There is just not enough movement.
The oil filter assembly blocked its way. So I thought I'd remove this as it could do with a new filter anyway. unfortunately removing the bell housing still didn't provide enough room.

The top of the filter assembly still blocked it. After disconnecting the pipe so I could remove the top of the assembly from the block I found that the damn servo is in the way meaning you can remove this. Its really a very poor place to locate the servo.

Anyhow its now reassembled with the old starter motor still in. so still starting using handle.

My question is how hard is it to move a brake servo. Other than changing pads on cars, i've never done anything more technical. I could see the bolts for it on the underside of the engine bay, but the heads of the bolts were completely hidden from above.

Are there any other options such as removing the whole distributor , not just the cap, and removing the starter from the top. Any advice is appreciated . As you can see I'm a real novice.

[bmcecosse]

It's a non-standard fitment - Minors never had servos, and frankly - don't need them either! I would deep 6 it......

[brother_morris]

It's in such a ridiculous place, right in way of everything.
I'm just not too sure about messing around with brakes just yet. Only done a few basic jobs so far.

Is removing the whole distributor assembly more hassle than its worth? And would I even be able to get the starter out from above?

[bmcecosse]

Surely you can just pull the starter forward -right up to the front, and then bring it up between the alternator and the horn (which is also in a non standard place).........

[brother_morris]

That's what I was hoping. Two of us tried all the different ways for this for over an hour.
When we pulled it straight forward because there is not any movement left or right it just hits the top of the oil filter assembly. It's close, but I really can't see how it'd go.

I don't think we were missing anything obvious. I would love to be proven wrong though.

If I could get the oil filter assembly off it'd be a doddle. But Like I side the brake servo blocks this sliding out. If I do decide to keep the servo I think it may have to be relocated slightly, as presently its just so impractical.

[bmcecosse]

Put a jack under the engine to get the extra 1/2" you need........ If necessary (but I doubt it) you can always release front engine mounts to get a bit more clearance.....

[brother_morris]

Sorry for all the questions. I really am very new to this. definitely a little out of my comfort zone already.

what you mean by a jack under the engine? i'm not following how this helps.
thanks

[bmcecosse]

Jack the engine UP slightly!! Just take it's weight really........

[MarkyB]

Is the servo hard up against the inner wing?
If not I'd just lever it over a bit to get some clearance.

[brother_morris]

Jack the engine UP slightly!! Just take it's weight really........

Ok, I think I understand, I was working in a pit yesterday, so I couldn't have done that there.
I will investigate this possibility next weekend.

Is the servo hard up against the inner wing?
If not I'd just lever it over a bit to get some clearance.

There is could be a little movement over to the left, and it could come forward a little. I was intending to unbolt it from the engine bay, but the bolt heads that secure it are on the blocked by the servo body itself, I guess the bracket must be fitted first and somehow it slots onto this. But I couldn't see how.