25 replies to this topic

[1984mini25]

Basically the freshly rebuilt engine in the Mayfair project won’t turn over on the starter motor.
All I get it the solenoid clicking and that’s about it, the starter does how ever work normally, if a bit lazy off the car.

So is it worth me fitting a new starter motor, it’s a pre engaged type. Or as the engine has been rebuilt with new rings/ hone and the original pistons refitted along with all the relevant bearings etc. Should I be looking at fitting an uprated one, or a more powerful one from another vehicle?

The engine does turn over by hand, but my guess is because of the new rings/hone it needs to be run for everything to bed in and loosen up.

[Mal_whitby]

If the starter motor is lazy when not on the car then there won't be much hope of it turning an engine.

Maybe try removing the spark plugs and turning it over with the starter motor then, to see if its easier. It's good practice to do that for a new engine anyway, to get oil pressure before it's started for real.

Edited by Mal_whitby, 07 October 2010 - 04:36 PM.

[miniJJ]

Sounds daft, but is the battery fully charged? My solenoid still clicked but couldn't run the starter when it was knackered, would explain the 'lazy' starter when not on the car.

JJ

[1984mini25]

The starter motor probably would be ok on a used engine that’s done a few thou, but then it did turn over another recently rebuilt engine not so long ago with no problems.

So trying to turn this one over might have just finished it off and I’ve already got the plugs out anyways.

[1984mini25]

Sounds daft, but is the battery fully charged?

I borrowed the fully charged one off the other mini.

[danrock101]

Give the started motor a tap with a hammer, is the stater the right one for the flywheel? does the engine turn over by hand? Sounds like more of an electrical problem though, will be worth checking the battery works in the other mini but check the earth strap first.

[1984mini25]

Give the started motor a tap with a hammer, is the stater the right one for the flywheel? does the engine turn over by hand? Sounds like more of an electrical problem though, will be worth checking the battery works in the other mini but check the earth strap first.

I’d hope so, as the starter, flywheel, flywheel/clutch housing and gearbox all came off the same engine.

The engine does turn over by hand with no binding up, albeit if a bit on the tight side.

And the battery defiantly works in the other mini, but then the engine in that never takes much effort to turn over/started as its had 62k of use to free up.

The earths though I might go back over and check, I’ve already had a few issues with those with the other electrics (reworked loom) But the engine earth is currently a brand new 9” cable (I personally hate the braded ones as they fray after a short while) from one of the clutch cover bolts, so as close to the starter as possible, to one of the suds for the clutch master cylinder at the other end.

[Southy]

It deffinantly sounds like a battery problem, try a jump pack or a set of jump leads on the battery and try cranking the engine over with the plugs out first of all to get the oil pressure up and then try and start it.

[bmcecosse]

The engine should not be ' a bit tight' - it should turn over easily by hand with the plugs out!

[1984mini25]

The engine should not be ' a bit tight' - it should turn over easily by hand with the plugs out!

Witch it does, with no tight spots, but it's not a free as the engine in the 25 thats done 62k.

[mini danny]

i had this with my estate not a rebuilt engine but would just click i changed battery and still clicked i then found out that my earth wire or negative was corroded and wasnt giving the starter motor enough power and just clicky so what i did was connect the neg to the door lock with a jump cable then try again

[1984mini25]

Well the engine is now free to turn, but the starter still isn’t having any of it.

Plus I’ve drained the battery over the last 3 days messing around with the electrics, but after swapping the battery back onto the 25, it fired up first try of the key without hesitation.

So if the battery is flat enough not to turn a starter on one engine, but quite happily turn over and start another, it can’t be the battery at fault.

But then I will take the 25 out for a good run to charge it back up before I end up with another dead battery to add to the collection.


So starters motors, am I stuck with a standard pre engaged or is then either a high torque alternative or a more powerful one from another vehicle that fits?

Edited by 1984mini25, 12 October 2010 - 04:04 PM.

[Kerrin]

There are a few hi torque starters about but they are not cheap, I have a Brise starter, fitted to cure a hot starting problem on the 1380 engine, it was fine when cold or left to cool.

What starter is on the other mini, can you swap it over and try it? or get another pre engaged from somewhere to try?

The solenoid throws the geared arm out when you apply the current and there is a big copper contact which pushes power to the motor when the gear is engaged. Its possible this is burnt out and not contcting properly, I have managed to clean them up tempararily but usually end up getting a new starter eventually.

Better to try another starter.

[bmcecosse]

You don't need a 'high torque' starter - clean up the one you have (comm and brushes) - and check all the connections.

[1984mini25]

The other one (84, 25) has the separate solenoid on the inner wing and inertia starter. But even though they both have the same clutch set up, the ring gears on the flywheels are different as the Mayfair’s an 89 with the pre-engaged set up.

Don’t know about trying another starter from somewhere, the only real option I have it to buy another/new and try it. Or at least I don’t know anyone to borrow a working one from to try it.

But all I’ve been getting is the clicking of the solenoid firing and the battery/oil lights going out and that’s it.