Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

I have fitted the new starter motor to the engine. It is an inertia type with one large terminal and a smaller one. It came with a linking "trigger" wire between the two terminals.

I have 13 volts from the battery (which is presently standing on the floor next to the chassis). The starter is supposed to be positive earth to suit the car.

I have a switch mounted on the bulkhead. It is Morris Minor type with two terminals and a spring loaded push/pull rod for use with a cable.

I don't know if I am doing something wrong but I have an insulated battery cable from the negative terminal of the battery to one terminal on the switch and another insulated cable from the other terminal to the starter terminal.

I have an earth cable from the starter mounting point to the battery positive terminal.

When I push the rod on the switch nothing happens.

What am I doing wrong, please?

[ukdave2002]

Hi Ray

From memory I think you have installed a WOS or similar high torque stater?, are you wiring it as an inertia or pre-engaged starter? If inertia you need to link the trigger to the main feed. Assuming the link is there what you have done looks correct.

Dave

[Ray White]

[Ray White]

I have a reading of 12 volts across the terminals of the switch when at rest.

I have 12v between the switch input terminal and the battery earth. but no reading between the switch output terminal and earth.

There is no reading between the starter terminal and +earth but there is 12v between the starter terminal and the - battery terminal.

Any ideas?

[MVPeters]

It all looks good to me, Ray.

If the motor armature sticks out at the back, can you turn it with your fingers or a small spanner?

I think I'd use jumper cables to connect directly from the battery to the starter motor terminal. You should get some reaction from the motor, even if it's sparks or smoke!
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

[ukdave2002]

[Ray White]

Suspecting the starter motor, this morning I took it to Richard Nelson our local Auto electrician. He tested the motor and switch on his equipment and it failed. A dead short apparently.

Richard was well acquainted with 'Powerlite' and informed me that he had previously fallen out with them in a big way. There have, apparently, been quite a few failures of starters etc. and it was suggested that I could return it.

I could have exchanged the unit for a replacement but fearing a less than reliable outcome I enquired about a repair.

Richard Nelson said he had all the parts in stock and could carry out an effective repair but until he had stripped it down he couldn't say how much it would be. The switch may also have suffered some damage.

I left the starter and switch with him; confident in the knowledge that he had done excellent work for me before; ie. rebuilding the Dodge Brothers starter.

What is it about me and duff starters???

[Peter_L]

I have only once seen a "Dead Short" on the actual starter motor. It doesn't need any test equipment, the smoke, sparks and smell will speak for themselves.

[ukdave2002]

I doubt it was a dead short for the reasons Peter gave; there would have been a lot more clues!, if it was then I'd expect the stater switch contacts to now be welded together

[Ray White]

[Peter_L]

Ray. I seriously think the time has come to get the starter motor on the bench. Check that it works, that the solenoid is throwing out the pinion. If it not trying to turn the engine you can do a quick test with some smaller cable.

The switch should be open circuit when at rest. If it is not, then the contacts are welded together. Open it up, it is likely scrap anyway.

There should be no conductivity between either terminal and the metal casing or the actuator.

The design of flywheel teeth are different for pure inertia starter pinions and the later solenoid actuated starter pinions, it is to do with the fact that in pure inertia the starter pinion has not got the solenoid assisted spring return.

[Ray White]

[Peter_L]

Thanks for the info...

[Churchill Johnson]

If your battery drops that much it's a bin job, again decent battery with jump leads would temp fix that, as for switch take leads off from it then hold them together yes will be sparks if batt ok that will soon show if motor will turn over..

[Ray White]