I'm looking for some mid exam period garage relaxation and am rebuilding a standard mini starter motor including the bushes.

To get to the front bush I need to remove the bendix gear. I can see how to take it apart, the large spring is compressed and the circlip removed to allow the large washer and spring to then be taken off...

But I don't have a tool to compress the spring evenly for the short distance it will compress, so how does one do this easily in the home workshop?

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

I used 2 or 3 small clamps (engineers/toolmakers) around the spring.

Cheers
Steve

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

cable ties......

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New from the UK and wanting a NICE little British car!

Is there anything they can't do?

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Simon

The adventures of an owner builder in the Tallarook Ranges

That's a good idea!
Who showed you how to do that Cappa?

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Cheers, I'll have a crack at it this afternoon

Cable ties have nearly taken the role that gaffa tape used to fill

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

My Mini guru showed me that, I think you know him very well

Cheers
Steve

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1964 998cc Cooper
1971 Mini K x 2
1972 Clubman GT

I couldn't find any usefully small enough g-clamps, so I used a pair of vice grips, one on each side. They worked very well actually.

Now I will change out the front bush, it seems that the only bush that was available was the later M35J starter motor (later mini starter motor) bush. This one is thicker in sidewall and therefore needs to have the front cover replaced with a later type, or have the front cover's bearing journal machined out .050".

This suits the same adjustable reamer that is used for the rear radius arm bushes, which I happen to have here, so I will do just that.

Thanks for the help so far.

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Hi you need one of these

They are a copy of the factory tool

I have one of these and have had it for over 30 years. It has done a lot of work. I bought it from a parts shop in London in 1978. It cost me one pound fifty I remember ! It is still going.

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DID I MENTION THAT I AM THE BEST SUPPLIER FOR MINI ELECTRICAL PARTS AND REPAIRS?
"Let us remove your "SHORTS"

yep great tools

I went to evening class and made mine, as a could not find one to buy.

Its quite any easy job if you have a lathe

Kiwiinwgtn