Morris Minor Owners Club

hi guys
in terms a girl could understand please .....like no clever technicals i dont understand
reference to a multimeter, great, if you know what to do with it ...i dont!!

engine has started before... usually very slowly grinding, but eventually catches and fires up nicely
runs well once started

but now...
turn on ign, all proper dash lights illuminate = ing & oil
turn further to start, ...just a solid clicking from solenoid..no turnover of engine
HAVE tried with jump leads off my landrover ....no joy
HAVE beaten starter motor with hammer ... as best you can in a confined space ...,No joy
HAVE rocked in 2nd with neighbours help ...No Joy
HAVE tried spanner on square lug at end of starter motor ...No Joy ...easy peasy can turn with finger tips.. almost
HAVE tried to short solenoid via red button ...No Joy
HAVE shorted across bared solenoid connections by aforesaid hammer head ...no joy
HAVE tried with manual crank handle ...engine turns freely...compression scarily good..

i think battery OK ...esp as tried to jump start with no result
lights dont dim at tickover or brighten as you increase the revs

any hints please ??

Is the electrical connection to the starter motor good and tight?

You could try taking a jump lead from the non-earth battery terminal to the terminal on the starter motor. That would bypass everything else and provide whether the motor is working. If yes, then move back to the solenoid and try the jump lead onto the terminal on the motor side. If the motor now does not spin, then it's a loose connection. If it does spin, then it's the solenoid.

thanks for the tips so far ...now removed both starter and solenoid ...

Solenoid, no continuity test across relevant spade connectors ...so i guess solenoid is duff

Starter on the deck, held by boot, -ve jump lead clipped to mounting flange, touched +ve to threaded cable stud at back of starter ....no reaction...Buggger

guess i need to buy both

I doubt the solenoid is faulty - the read ings are as they should be. The starter probably just needs brushes and/or a good internal clean.