Morris Minor Owners Club

Has anyone used the starter motor from an Isuzu Trooper II 1989-ish, 2.6 L?
It's a gear reduction starter and is apparently a bolt-in swap for the A series engines. I'm not even sure if that vehicle was sold in the UK, or if it was, what it might have been called.

Isuzu Troopers were certainly sold here - not sure if that derivative was though.

Question has to be asked though - WHY?

Well, when starter replacement time comes, they are about $ 75 here, are gear-reduction so they take less juice to crank the engine, and are less prone to jamming on the flywheel. Other than that, no reason.

Seems unlikely a starter for a 2.6 litre engine would be small enough to fit the A series! Do let us know how you get on with it.
Starters generally last for many many years - and when they go wrong - they just need a new set of inexpensive carbon brushes!

Just FYI- this is a letter and link from a Yahoo Morris group.

This email applies to MG/Sprite - In the Morris it bolts right into place. No problem. So do not panic when you see some thing about adjusting the sheet metal.

The 1989 Isuzu Trooper II 2.6 liter fuel injected 4 cylinder engine uses a starter that is a near perfect fit for the A-series engine found in
Sprites and Midgets. The starter fits all 948, 1098, and 1275 A-series
blocks. The are two frame numbers listed for the Trooper. The 17155 is a perfect fit in all respects but seems to be no longer available. The
16878 fits the engine perfectly but requires a little modification to some sheet metal of Midget/Sprite - NOT Morris.
It is the latter, the 16878, that you will probably get over the counter.
That is what i used when i installed the new starter.
The Isuzu starter is available most Auto parts store - Usually you have to order it.
They sell for around $70 plus tax and a $25.00 core charge.
Most of them do not care if the core is the same device.
Here is the link for the pictures of the jumper. As you can see it is no big deal.
Ignore any thing besides the information & picture of the jumper.
I had the starter when I went to the store - that way I got the correct parts.
Remember this is a TR6 motor - You do not need the spacer.

http://www.teglerizer.com/triumphstuff/ ... tarter.htm

I too would be worried about the 'meshing'! The ring gear teeth are chamfered for rear entry. When pre-engaged starters were introduced for the Mini version of the A series - a different ring gear was fitted - with front entry meshing. I have no idea if that Mini ring gear would fit a Minor flywheel - but it must be a possibility. Other possibility will be to hand chamfer the ring gear for front entry (just a touch on each tooth with an angle grinder) - or maybe - just fit a new gear - wrong way round!

good find info like this is always welcomed .

Midget/Sprite experience shows that the system works well but the gear meshing is a bit of a worry, although I've not seen anyone state that their starter/ring-gear has suffered. The rotation rate of the Isuzu starter is at least twice that of a lucas unit, thus giving a darned good spin to an engine. It has been described as making the engine sound "a bit Yamazuki" in that the sound is more "Vuhvuhvrrrrrrring" than the standard Lucas " Gruh......gruh.....gruh" (Yeah, yeah! I'm sure you know what I am trying to say)

Cambridge Motorsport make something similar, don't they?

If you turn the ring gear around, the chamfer is facing the wrong side of the teeth, albeit on the correct face of the flywheel.
What is the Scotts Gaelic word for "DOH!"?

RobThomas wrote:
What is the Scotts Gaelic word for "DOH!"?

McDoh ?

Yes - I did think that was likely - just a rushed suggestion - the later Mini ring gear is a much better possibility! But I haven't checked the sizes at all.

This one is on ebay from Sussex Classic Car Parts, has anyone ever fitted one to a Morris engine? Its a bit pricey for me but the last time I spoke to the motor factors in Inverness he was quoting £60ish for a new standard starter motor and that was with an exchange unit.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... K:MEWAX:IT

Plenty of good second-hand starters about! Would be interesting to get the cost for the 'Isuzu' unit in UK to see how it compares with overseas cost.

My mate fitted one of this type starter to his Sprint, didn't like the sound it made while operating (lots of gear whine) removed it then rebuilt the original Lucas unit, which works fine, then ebayed the new one!
Stick to the original - tried and trusted!

I did a quick ebay search and the Isuzu starters seem to be £97 to £120. So not the cheapest option.

Maybe it's a cheaper route on this side of the pond...