5 replies to this topic

[MrNowell]

Hi there,

 

I've got a 998 engine that came with the came I found (barn find) and I'm having an issue.

 

I've finally got everything wired up and rebuilt the only thing is that the engine won't crank/turn over?

 

I haven't got the fuel lines connected yet as I'm trying to go through everything step by step to make sure it's correct and I'm getting close to the end.

 

What happens is the Starter Motor grinds, and the engine start perfectly still.

 

I've tested the starter motor outside of the engine bay and it spins freely. However, I'm starting to think the engine may be seized? Because I can't turn the engine freely.

 

Basically, I need some advice?

 

Thanks all.

[Spider]

Hi and welcome to our forum !

Are you able to turn the engine over by hand from the front pulley ?

If it's in the car, perhaps put it in 4th gear and see if you can push it, possibly take the plugs out too.

 

[alpder]

Starter can fail to engage - and so just grinds - if the battery is very low. Same symptom can occur if it's not getting enough power for any other reason - like a bad cable connection, including corroded (or missing) connection of the earth-strap from engine to chassis.

 

Never tried to crank a seized engine, but I would imagine in such case the starter would engage but then just stop (and shortly after start to smoke if you keep trying to crank).

[Lplus]

Hi there,

 

I've got a 998 engine that came with the came I found (barn find) and I'm having an issue.

 

I've finally got everything wired up and rebuilt the only thing is that the engine won't crank/turn over?

 

I haven't got the fuel lines connected yet as I'm trying to go through everything step by step to make sure it's correct and I'm getting close to the end.

 

What happens is the Starter Motor grinds, and the engine start perfectly still.

 

I've tested the starter motor outside of the engine bay and it spins freely. However, I'm starting to think the engine may be seized? Because I can't turn the engine freely.

 

Basically, I need some advice?

 

Thanks all.

If you can't turn the engine freely with the starter removed then the bores are probably rusty. If you can't turn the engine at all with the starter removed then it is seized - probably again due to bore rust.  A partially seized engine can be freed off but may well burn oil and have poor compression - a fully seized engine is another barrel of herring entirely and may well need removing.

 

As a matter of interest, is this an inertia starter or a pre engage?  Not that it makes a lot of difference to a seized engine....

Edited by Lplus, 16 February 2025 - 12:12 PM.

[mab01uk]

As said does your Mini have an inertia starter or the later type pre-engaged starter? The year of Mini or a photo of the starter will also help if you are not sure.

 

In the case of an inertia starter you need to check the motor spins up to operating speed and at that point the Bendix gear moves fully across and engages with the ring gear on the flywheel. If the thread that the Bendix pinion gear travels on is clogged up with old oil or grease, the pinion gear will not travel far enough to engage properly with the ring gear. So take off the starter motor and check the Bendix gear is free moving, has good gear teeth and will move to the end of its shaft. It should rotate easily and move back towards the motor body, ie. when you let go it returns to its original position on its own smoothly.
If it doesn't, you need to free it up, use brake cleaner not any kind of lubricant as it’ll just gum up again. If it still won’t move freely due to wear and / or corrosion buy a new one.

Also check the gear teeth on the flywheel for wear.

 

In the case of a later pre-engaged starter the solenoid on top of the starter should move the starter pinion gear into the flywheel first and then it should start turning the flywheel.

Edited by mab01uk, 16 February 2025 - 04:00 PM.

[MrNowell]

Hi everyone!

 

Sorry for not replying sooner (half term family fun).

So it's a inertia starter, but that's a great point I have never tried turning the motor over with the starter removed.

First thing in the morning I'll remove the starter and try and turn it by hand. I'll try and test the starter again, but I'm almost sure that the Bendix does move across when connecting it to a battery.

 

If it's the starter, I'll get some carb cleaner on it and get it cleaned up.

 

I'm hoping that it's just the starter and not rust in the bore. That sounds horrendous... But that is the mini life I suppose!

 

Thanks everyone, I'll update in the morning.