Guys, i went to start Slidey this morning and upon turning the ignition key, all i get is a whirring sound but no cranking of the motor...... the lights on the dash dim a little but not much.
Is the starter motor faulty? Perhaps the clutch mechanism in the motor is burnt out???

Any Feedback........?

_________________
I got nuthin......................

Common problem. The motor is turning but is not engaging the pinion. It relies on inertia to engage the pinion and if the mechanism is dirty, worn or the internal spring is broken it doesn't want to work. The large external spring is there to cushion the pinion when it is flung out of engagement when the engine starts. Remove the starter motor and clean the spiral track. It's probably covered in crud, worn clutch facings etc. If this doesn't work then dismantle and clean the pinion assembly. Spring compressor required to remove retaining circlip.
Either that or your battery is on the way out or you have a dodgy connection. Try cleaning first

RonR

steve did you understand that?

the starter motor is the long big cylinder on the left in front of your engine.
on the end of this long big cylinder, thats is inside the engine block (mounted on the bracket on the left)
is the part where Miniron's talking about
its a stick with a gear(pinion) at the end, and this is what cranks the engine over when you go to start it.

you have to undo two bolts/nuts, pull out the start motor carefully and clean it.
(are there any wires to disconnect, i dont think so, but starter motors logically should have wires connected to it)

i had this same problem... the thing was, the gear/shaft at the end of the starter motor (that is inside the block) was loose. you could grab the end and shake it around 3mm
bought a new startermotor $180. problem is, that its black and the whole engine's gold

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

Karcraft in Sydney have UK factory rebuilt starters for $123.
I fitted one, after having 4 in a row go belly-up..

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

slidey is already a bitsa.. give that lucas POS a toss and put in a gemini one

_________________
Expert in training

as long as u dont have an oil cooler fitted.

_________________
lookin for another clubby

would the gemini one just fit on just like that?
where you be able to get a new one

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

gemini one needs slight mods to bolt holes, other than that sfa. are u askin about a new gemini one or a new lucas one ?

_________________
lookin for another clubby

nah new gemini one (dont think you can)

and sg doesnt have many tools, so he cant mod the bolt holes

steve i think you should just go to Matt and get a new lucarse starter motor
dont expect a warranty
but ask just in case

_________________
Inconspicuously Conspicuous
Appreciation without Depreciation
forever chasing clearer skies...

All this advice on checking and changing starter motors reminds me of an important lesson I learnt many many years ago when I first tried this same thing..........disconnect the battery first!

If you don't have an oil cooler installed the gemini starter is definately the way to go.
KB

Guys thank for your responses. After walking away and having some food and a think about it..... i rang Low'n' Blown (greg) and he said that the shaft is dry causing the inertia reel not to slide up and engage the pinion. Took the starter motor out, lubricated the shaft and cleaned the mechanism, put back in.........goes like a new one.

Duc..... i actually have enough tools now after buying out the local trade tools of all thier bits and peices!!!!!!!!.

_________________
I got nuthin......................

Oh dear, I hope you didn't use oil. You need to use a dry lubricant such as graphite powder, the stuff they use for padlocks or dry moly spray. The oil will just attract the crud and it won't be long before you have to clean it again.

RonR

Main advantage of a GeMini starter is it is pre- engaged- no bendix drive to gunk up.
But of course any starter can have problems when it's old- the pre-engaged ones just have different ($more expensive) ones!

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I've modified a Toyota Corona starter and fitted to my S, had the nose turned down and had a mini starter flange welded on. Works a treat, as long as you have the wide ring gear! Steve

Honda ones work too if you do this, it's alloy- mod entails machining it and TIG welding to a Mini flange. Was posted on MM site a while back.

_________________
DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.