starter motor not engaging

[Crack Pot]

What he said, ………..you need to remove starter and make sure the bendix moves freely, they often start to stick, and then will not engage with fly wheel

So what are you surgesting; I bypass the solenoid terminals with a screw driver to see if it works or not and if it dose not work, I then remove the starter motor to examen the bendix

BTW what is a bendix?

[Exminiman]

You could try shorting the solenoid with a screw driver - it not recommended, but will answer the question as to whether the solenoid is broken.

When you engage the starter motor (inertia type) the motor spins up to operating speed and at that point the Bendix gear will then move across and engage the ring gear on the fly wheel. If the thread that the Bendix gear travels on is clogged up with old oil or grease, the gear will not travel far enough to engage with the ring gear. So the idea is you take off the starter motor and check the Bendix gear is free moving and will move to the end of the shaft....if anyone can explain more simply please chime in
.

starter motor.jpg

[Crack Pot]

Tried bypassing the solenoid with a tool and still same
So guess i need to remove the starter motor then
Battery 13.16V afterwards

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Z_RsZhydGH0

[Crack Pot]

So I have taken it off!
Everything looks OK; So what am I looking for what do I do next plz?

[Exminiman]

Hold the end of the shaft so it doesn't move and try and rotate the bit with the gear teeth.

It should rotate easily and move towards the motor body then when you let go return to its original position on its own smoothly.

If it doesn't, you need to free it up, lots of WD40 could help here.

[Pete]

Looks pretty grubby, give it a good clean and get it moving freely, it should return with little effort, use brake cleaner not any kind of lubricant as it’ll just gum up again. If it just won’t move nice and freely due to wear and / or corrosion launch it and buy a new one!

[Crack Pot]

Hold the end of the shaft so it doesn't move and try and rotate the bit with the gear teeth.

It threads in and out; that is all it dose; please see video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kLQPk0 ... e=youtu.be

[mini_surfari]

It doesn’t return as it should, looks gummed up.

Do as the previous posts say, and give it a thorough clean and it will start returning on its own.

[Peter Laidler]

In the past I have dunked the bendix end, up to the main casing, nose down in a can (I used an old coke can with top snipped off) of clean paraffin overnight. The paraffin soaked right through the bendix and pinion and freed it all off.

That's the easy bit. If you need to take the bendix part off, find a friend with a heavy duty spring compressor. Have done it in the past using a drill-press or lathe chuck and tail stock

[Crack Pot]

It doesn’t return as it should, looks gummed up.

Do as the previous posts say, and give it a thorough clean and it will start returning on its own.

So are you saying it should return back with out the need of myself threading it hence it is seezed up?

[mab01uk]

Hold the end of the shaft so it doesn't move and try and rotate the bit with the gear teeth.

It threads in and out; that is all it dose; please see video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kLQPk0 ... e=youtu.be

Your video clearly demonstrates the problem, as others have said your starter bendix gear is not freely returning as it should. Give it a thorough clean as has been suggested and it should start returning on its own without you helping to move it along.

[Crack Pot]

I sprayed it with some WD40, seams to move better now! will leave it over night to soak in again, then spray it again in the middle of the night, then again in the morning and post back

Thanks

[Crack Pot]

I have oiled it over night. Do you think it looks a lot better? should I go fit it? Dose it need copper grease on the cogs first?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q-UI2eQRR0


Thank

[mab01uk]

I can't view your video as it says it is private (Not sure why as I can view your previous video ok). Hopefully some other Mk1 Forum members will be able to see and comment on the video.
Assuming the starter bendix gear is now returning on its own without any help, you could fit it back on the car and hopefully it will fix the starting problem.
However don't use any copper grease or oil as that just attracts dirt and dust back to deposit on the bendix over time and make the sticking problem return.
The WD40 should be ok as it is very thin and light as a lubricant but ideally something like brake cleaner is often best as it leaves no oily residue to attract dirt and dust.
Let us all know how you get on.

[Ronnie]

I have oiled it over night. Do you think it looks a lot better? should I go fit it? Dose it need copper grease on the cogs first?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q-UI2eQRR0


Thank

NO GREASE Graphite or use a pencil lead, and you don't use a large amount.

[Crack Pot]

I can't view your video as it says it is private (Not sure why as I can view your previous video ok).

Sorry about that! try again
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ac9ZAy-xs5c

[Crack Pot]

I bolted it back on; and it now starts fine thanks!

[Exminiman]

glad to hear it, not many Metros on here, any chance of some info on it ..?

[mab01uk]

I think Metros are now a much rarer classic car than Minis and a very rare sight in UK...so it might be worth looking after it for the long term!

[Crack Pot]

not much to say about it really, its just a crappy old metro, in between needs work and fair condition
Very popular car at one point but very little left in the classic world, but no where near as expencive or desirable as the classic minis though