So every now and then my starter motor seems to lock up and won't turn over. I put the car in 3rd and rock the car until it frees up, then she's good to go for the next year or two until it happens again. Do you think this is anything to be worried about, or just accept it as a quirk of the car?

'69 Mini 1100 standard, more or less a Mini K.

Thanks in advance!

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'69 Mini 1100 (base model Mini K), '54 Land Rover (Series 1), '69 VW Beetle, '85 Land Rover 110 County.

I'd leave it. If you fix it, something else will go wrong!

The ring gear on the flywheel is chewed out in one spot.
The engine usually stops in one of 4 places, so the starter only engages in those spots.

Disconnect the battery, unbolt the starter motor.
Reach in with a small file & file the burrs off the ring gear in those 4 places. You'll be able to see the burrs.

Alternatively, fit a gemini starter motor!
They use the other (unworn) side of the ring gear, and they don't burr the ring gear either.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

While you've got starter out, check gear end bush (bearing) for looseness, also teeth on gear. It is a mini starter? These starters were used on lots of pommy cars, it may be wrong gear on it.

i.e. might be triumph or hillman etc, they all look the same at a glance. I think it should have 9 teeth?

Some Mini ones have 9 teeth, others 10, just to confuse us!

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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.

sounds like brushes to me, they wear un even so when you rock them they click back into place.

take the starter apart and have a peak.

Kiwiinwgtn

The only way rocking will help is if the Bendix gear is stuck in mesh with the ring gear. Remove starter and check if gear moves freely on the armature shaft, if sticking clean thoroughly & very lightly oil shaft with the most minimal amount of the thinnest oil available. Refit & all should be O.K. until the next time clutch dust makes a mess of it.

Ash.

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----------1984 Mini Mayfair with not much 1984 Mayfair left of it!-----------
----------1968 fake Cooper S that messed with a tree -----------------------------

Why would the brushes being worn cause the starter drive lock in mesh?

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

Use powdered graphite on the bendix splines instead of oil, so the dust won't stick to it.

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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 for the replies. I'll pull the starter motor off when I get a chance and look into it. Seems it could be caused by a number of things, so better make sure it's nothing too serious. In the meantime she's running fine, but for how long is the question

Cheers!

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'69 Mini 1100 (base model Mini K), '54 Land Rover (Series 1), '69 VW Beetle, '85 Land Rover 110 County.

Or wash in kerosine and let air dry and assemble without any extra - kero will be lubricant enough

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!