Morris Minor Owners Club

Poor Florence, 1965 convertible, is sulking after a period of being in storage. She's back on the road now, but not quite settled. We've had her running for a few months - just at weekends - but this week she wouldn't start. The starter motor has power, the fuel pump is clicking away, but the engine won't turn. At all. We have rocked her like mad, but to no avail.
Any tips would be very gratefully recieved...

is the starter motor stuck off? Hapeend to me before starter just turned but not the engine.

sounds like it could be a stuck clutch? and rocking should be the way to free it.

got a starting handle? turn off ignition and see if you can turn the engine by hand?

does the starter engage and stop, just spin, or just 'click' may be that the starter has stuck and requires some 'percussive maintainance' (hit it to free it)

has above also sounds the batt might be flat

Try with jump leads first! If it has 'stuck in' - there is a little square on the end of the starter, turn this with a spanner to release the starter, then try again.

If you mean that the starter whirrs away but the engine doesn't turn over then the starter gear is probably not throwing into engagement with the starter ring gear. This would involve removing the starter motor and thoroughly cleaning the area where the small gear should be free to move along the shaft. Do not oil it, just clean it. If you haven't got a starting handle then try bump starting the car in 2nd gear. If you do have a starting handle then remember to grasp it with you fingers AND
thumb on the same side of the handle, not with your thumb on one side and fingers on ther other. This avoids the chance of breaking your thumb in the event of a kickback.

Willie wrote:If you mean that the starter whirrs away but the engine doesn't turn over then the starter gear is probably not throwing into engagement with the starter ring gear. This would involve removing the starter motor

But as Flying says, try charging the battery first, as an almost flat battery can have enough power left to make the motor spin but not engage.

Jump leads will overcome the flat battery!! Easier and faster. Essential carriage in all cars these days.

Thanks everyone - I do have a starting handle and will try (thanks for the thumb tip!) and I'll have a stab at the percussive maintenance too. The starter motor whirs away on the first turn, then nothing until the ignition is completely switched off and turned on again. I'm hoping its not a catastrophic problem - although she's due back in the garage for some gearbox repairs soon anyway. All in all I think Florence wants more TLC, so a bit of fuss with a spanner will hopefully solve it.
Thanks for all the tips - its much appreciated. I'll let you know how we get on...

Bat Flattery.

Probably also an ill one now, if it's been left discharged for any length of time. A suitable (though not great) one can be had for around 25 quid at any half decent motor factors, though with a fair bit of luck the old one might be OK after a long low amp charge.

Costco is best place by far for a new high quality battery at very fair price. This problem - whirring starter - could be dirty Bendix (the bit sticking out the end of the starter motor) - if so easily cured by cleaning with petrol. But DO NOT oil it!

bmcecosse wrote:This problem - whirring starter - could be dirty Bendix (the bit sticking out the end of the starter motor) - if so easily cured by cleaning with petrol. But DO NOT oil it!

True, I'd forgotten about the number of times I've had Mini starters off and sat covering myself and surroundings in dirty petrol splatters freeing things up - I guess I've just been lucky enough that the intertia whir no engagey problems I've had the last few years have all been dead batteries