Morris Minor Owners Club

My car is refusing to start from the key at the moment...

You turn the key, and it just makes a buzzing/whirring noise as though it is not engaging with the flywheel. I understand that the drive components will be covered in clutch dust and I need to take it apart, clean it and replace them.

The Haynes Manual has instructions. Can anyone offer any specific advice? Is it very hard to do?

I've had my lot of using the starting handle, epsecially at embarassing times such as level crossings where I've forgotten all about the ruddy thing not working! Enough's enough and I really need to sort it out.

Is it any different if you press the button under the bonnet ? What I mean is - is the starter rotating - but not engaging - or is the problem with the solenoid (the bit with the button)? If starter not engaging - first check - is the battery fully charged or is it flat ? Check also the connections at the battery - and at the earth cable where it connects to the body. If all ok - remove the starter - just two bolts and the cable of course. Thoroughly clean the bendix gear with petrol and work the bendix back and forth so it runs up and down easily. DO NOT oil this - it must be left dry. Put a couple of drops of oil on the bushes at each end of the starter body - check the rotor can rotate easily - not sticky. Refit starter - and hopfully all will be well.

Is the battery fully charged?
If you take the starter motor off it's worth taking the cover off the brushes and check their condition and how dirty everything is in there.
The dirt tends to be made up of copper and carbon which is all conductive and can cause some of the power to be lost.
If the brushes are below the tops of the holders you might as well replace them.
Take a few pictures while it's out.

Starter motor was new recently - likewise with battery. I don't think the motor itself is to blame, or the battery for that matter because for a while it will not work and then - like just now before I got home - for the first time today it worked as normal again.

I'll have a crack at taking it apart as suggested. Your advice is in line with the manual and what my branch's technical adviser has said to me so it's surely likely to be the problem. Many thanks.

I've moved this thread to the mechanical forum as it is not really 'general discussion'

Lou

If the bellhousing is very oily - the bendix will be collecting oil/dirt etc - and making a nasty sticky paste!

Another thing that causes starters to play up is if the engine isn't earthed properly.
A dead giveaway for this is if the choke cable gets very hot when you are trying to start the car.
As the symptoms are intermittent I'd try starting the car on the solenoid as BMC suggests, then see if any of the connections get hot or make a sizzling sound.

Indeed yes - that happens on Minis, but less likely on Minor with the prop shaft providing a good earth route - but still could happen I suppose!

This does sound like a dirty/sticking bendix ... some times giving the starter a sharp thwack with a hammer can pop it back into position, but taking it off and cleaning it is the only long-term solution.

Remove the starter motor, put it on the garage floor and connect a pair of jump leads, one to the terminal and the other to the mounting flange. Connect the other ends of the jump leads to the battery terminals and providing the battery is good then the starter will spin into action if it is working.
There are probably a few health and safety issues here. I am sure someone will add them in.

Be sure to have a large booted foot holding the starter down while you do this or it will jump across the floor.