Morris Minor Owners Club

ok heres the problem
starter motor was not working, have taken out on inspection main spring and securing washer have broken up into the fly wheel housing,
does mean i have to take out the gear box housing or is there a easier way

to get the broken bits out yes

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to leave them in there! The washer came off the end of my Land Rover's starter motor (not the spring) and I wasn't able to get it out with the gearbox in place. I was going to split the box, but unfortunately I listened to my dad when he said, "there's loads of space in the bottom of the bell housing, it'll never go anywhere near the flywheel." I swapped the starter for an exchange, gingerly started the engine, and it sounded fine so I set off down the road. 100 yards later, crunchcrunchclatterCLANG!!!


This is the inside of the bell housing after we took the gearbox out.

I wouldn't take the geabox out - I'd just unbolt the bellhousing and prize them apart about 15 or 20mm - then fish the bits out of the bottom using a bent coathanger... or if you're feeling adventurous, use a little magnet stuck on the end of a bit of wire.

Take the rubber bung off the side of the bellhousing - and fish for it through there with a magnet on a stick. If that doesn't work - i would cut a 2" diameter hole in the base of the bell housing using a hole cutter in a leccy drill. Plenty strength in the bell housing - and it won't take long for a good cutter to hack through the aluminum.

Surely a magnet on a bit of string, thrown in through the starter hole would do the job? Just keep "fishing" until all known to be rattling around parts have been removed

Indeed - but it will stick to the flywheel!

Indeed - but it will stick to the flywheel!

And the clutch too.

Most likely the loose parts will fall to the bottom when the engine isn't running, but the bottom isn't where the holes are.
The suggestion of cutting a 2" hole isn't actually as bad as it may sound, although I'd prefer to unbolt the bellhousing to make access, as this won't leave any evidence afterwards.

Success!! Strong magnet stuck to the end of a telescopic aerial does the trick, after about 2 hours (yes - 2 hours) of fishing. All parts safely retrieved and Doris is back on the road with a replacement starter motor out of my collection of 5. Many thanks for all suggestions - much appreciated.

Ah - but they say fishing is such a relaxing sport.

rayofleamington wrote:

Indeed - but it will stick to the flywheel!

And the clutch too.

You lot clearly have higher quality magnets than me... The ones I tend to find buried in the bottom of boxes are just about OK to hold half their weight on a good day, so if a spring weighs 30g all I'd need is a 60g magnet

Little magnets from Hornby Dublo locos are small and very strong!

thanks for all the info but i unfortunatly dont own a train set or have scales to weigh springs and magnets lol