Morris Minor Owners Club

Went to start the pickup yesterday and it went but the starter motor kept rotating so flicked the ignition off expecting to have to grab a spanner to disconect the battery (its a pull start one) but it all stopped ?????? sooo on with ignition, pulled the starter and was met with the not engageging spinning motor sound. Hopped out, inserted the starting handle and when it started the starter motor started to rotate ????? how weird is that? All was revealed today when I fitted the spare starter motor, the dogs on the bendix had come disengaged from the rest of it, dont know if it would last if I just bashed it back together again or not. Your views on this welcome as it seems a shame to scrap an otherwise perfectly good motor.[frame][/frame]

Hello Nigel,

replacement pinions used to be available, you need a small spring compressor to squeeze the spring so as to remove the circlip off the end. Easy to make if you are handy and have some tools.

Alec

As long as it's not cracked or split - it's likely just 'gummed up'. A good cleaning with brake cleaner spray and a toothbrush should help - just make sure it can ride up and down the spiral easily and freely. DO NOT lubricate the Bendix!

Hello BMCE,

look again at the right hand picture, the bendix has come apart.

Alec

Aye - but is that not just because it has 'stuck' ?

Hello BMCE,

no, it's not just that, the top collar of the pinion has pulled out of the main body. If it were removed I dare say a coupls of weld spots would secure it pretty well?

Alec

I really can't remember what holds it in there........ Any that have gone wrong on me have been obviously split/cracked .

That thin spring shouldn't be visible, I didn't know it was there and I've replaced bendixes in the past.
There is virtually no wear on the teeth so I'm guessing it's a low budget reconditioned item.

The ones that I've replaced have had less than half the length of tooth remaining.

It does look very oily, does the car drip much?

Yes I was suprised how oily it was as the car doesn't use much oil and theres hardly a drip on the driveway ? maybe its left over oil from when the breather was blocked when I first had it.