Hi Guys,

Hoping to pick your brains for advice, went out just now to take the mini for a run before the showers hit, and I couldn't get it to start. The starter motor was spinning up making a sound sort of like the whine of a cordless drill rather than the usual rumbling sound, kind of like it wasn't engaged? Even when the battery has been too flat to start it has been more of a sad coughing sound rather than this. I last drove the car about a week ago.

Any advice?

Cheers

Nick

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Basil - 1978 Leyland Mini, Brooklands Green, bit of a bitsa, and a park brick in the boot.

It will happen if the bendix gear is dry and the pinion can't slide down it. You need to pull the starter out, clean the shaft and pinion and lubricate it with a light lubricant. It can be worse if the battery is flat.

Tim

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1951 Morris Commercial J Type Van
1955 BSA C11G
1961 Morris Mini Traveller
1969 Triumph TR6R
1977 Leyland Moke Californian

Cheers for that I'll give it a go tomorrow morning when I have some free time.

Any particular lubricant you recommend? All i have sitting around is engine oil and bearing grease I'm guessing neither of those.

Thanks again!

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Basil - 1978 Leyland Mini, Brooklands Green, bit of a bitsa, and a park brick in the boot.

Don't use oil or grease (or WD40). They pick up dust and make it stick.

1. Wash the bendix drive with thinners. let it dry.
2. Sprinkle with powdered graphite (available from Bunnings etc).

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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.

Thanks Doc, I'll get some graphite then

Thanks again guys

Nick

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Basil - 1978 Leyland Mini, Brooklands Green, bit of a bitsa, and a park brick in the boot.

Well I just got the starter back in, went to turn it over and the battery is now flat but I could still hear it engaging now rather than the mad spinning from last week. Hopefully a day on the charger sees it all sorted.

Thanks for the help

Nick

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Basil - 1978 Leyland Mini, Brooklands Green, bit of a bitsa, and a park brick in the boot.