Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,

Is there any need to grease any part of a reconditioned starter motor on fitting?

Thanks,

Paul.

Absolutely not! The Bendix must not be oiled or greased - in fact - good idea to thoroughly de-grease the Bendix with carb cleaner before installation.

OK cheers, it`s reconditioned so it`s totally oil or grease free.
It still hasn`t cured the fault though.
When first starting it seems to turn over slowly stops and doesn`t fire when pulled a second time it reacts normally and fires up.

Well - you need to look to the earth strap, and the battery connections.. ... Is the engine easy enough to turn over by hand - using the handle ?

carpetbloke wrote:OK cheers, it`s reconditioned so it`s totally oil or grease free.
It still hasn`t cured the fault though.
When first starting it seems to turn over slowly stops and doesn`t fire when pulled a second time it reacts normally and fires up.

mine did that. then i got a club member to set the timing properly and now........

I have checked the earth and battery connections, I can`t turn on the starting handle as there is just a nut on the pulley as the engine`s a 1275.
The car runs really well but I suppose the timing could be looked at.

Is the engine obviously 'kicking' against the starter? Does it pink when running? The bolt on the nose of the crank can (and should) be changed for the starter 'dog' from a Minor engine...... It's handy to be able to use the handle! You could try retarding the timing to see if that helps starting.

Thanks for the reply.
The starter doesn`t seem to kick against the engine.
The engine runs sweet and doesn`t pnk.
The way it feels is as if there is too much resistance when you first try to start so it spins a little and stops.
The initial spin of the engine then seems to free it and it spins and starts properly, and I must say starts perfectly then if that makes any sense at all.
I will try retarding slightly or better still let someone else have a go.
I will look into changing the nut for a starter dog later, not sure if it can be done with the rad in place.
Paul.

Sounds like engine 'kicking' against the starter due to over advanced timing. It's a two minute job to pop the rad out...........

I took the advice and retarded the ignition slightly.
It`s early days yet and it needs to be fully tested but it does seem to have solved the problem.
I probably need to twek a little but thanks for the invaluable advice.

Just to confirm as BMC suggested earlier, have you checked the earth strap from gearbox to chassis?

Yes I checked every possible earth strap on the car and they were sound.
It looks like it was the timing that was too far advanced.

It obviously WAS the overadvanced engine - but have to ask WHY this was ? Has the vacuum advance failed - and the dizzy has been set forward to try to get decent running? Or has the mechanical advance failed and is jammed in the (at least partially) advanced position? Or has the timing just been 'messed about' ??? It needs investigation.