Morris Minor Owners Club

So, I fitted a new starter (this is turning out to be a bit of a long story, this whole starter business). My haynes manual says not to lubricate it, so I didn't. All is fine, then it starts to stick...

...out it comes, and I think for a bit, then lubricate it using graphite.

...all is well for *ages*, then it starts to stick. I take it out, relube with graphite, and all is well for about 2 weeks.

...I took it out yesterday and cleaned it (not remotely oily, no signs of the graphite) and it just sticks wherever on the shaft the gear is.

In the end I've had to lube it with some very thin oil, I'm certain it's now going to stick, but it just wasn't returning of it's own accord. What am I doing wrong? What should it be lubricated with? Help!

In theory it is supposed to be lubricated with graphite. If it's continually sticking I wonder if the pinion teeth on your new starter is the correct type / profile? Or I wonder, if there is a difference with the profile of the flywheel teeth on your 1275cc engine?

Do you mean that it is sticking in engagement with the starter ring teeth?
Normally the speed of the engine when it fires will throw the starter gear out
of engagement. I have always meticulously cleaned the starter mechanism
and refrained from oiling it so if light oiling cures your sticking it must indicate
that it is not running as free as it should. I have had this problem with one
starter and the only thing which cured it was to fit a washer/ahim between the
starter and the engine so that it was slightly out of true when bolted upl

Just clean it carefully with thinners or maybe petrol - somthing that will evaporate away. If it's still sticking then it may be slightly bent. Putting oil on it will just attract dirt- which makes it stick.

By sticking I mean sticking at the end of the shaft; it's not staying engaged. If you wind it down the bendix gear thingie to the end of the shaft and let go, it'll just sit there.

Well, at the moment it's okay; I guess when it starts sticking again I'll give it a good clean and throw lots of graphite on there again. Cheers guys...

Not lots of graphite - just a light wipe over with (I assume) graphite dust ??

Kate some 1275cc engines require a 1/8" - 1/4" spacer fitted on the shaft to stop sticking issues as there seem to be some slight differences on some 1275cc blocks, do you have a copy of Owen Burtons Marina to Minor as there's a good diagram in there if not pm me and I will send you a scan, as I had to do this on a Midget engine.

The reason the book says not to grease is when the starter is flying round the grease flys off and could contaminate the clutch, so don't put to much on.
Just out of interest, where can I get Graphite grease? Motor factors can only get it in 12kg tubs which is far to much. Even tried halfords but got the usual 'whats that' answer.

You used to be able to buy Graphite from main dealers in a tube form for lubrications locks and the like and it used to come in the form of a small puffer, if you cant get any you can always use a soft pencil 2HB or similar and rub the pencil lead on the shaft as its the most common form of graphite available.
Not sure about the greae but graphite is available
http://www.graphitetrading.co.uk/

It's certainly NOT graphite grease!! The 'no grease' is nothing to do with contaminating the clutch - and everything to do with not attracting clutch dust onto the Bendix drive !