Starter motor not engaging

[flagg]

Hi Everyone,

its been the best part of 3 years but I've finally got a moment to play with my 110 again. Prior to parking up it had an issue with the starter motor - the solenoid would be powered and I could hear a click but it wouldn't engage or spin. It was intermittent in daily use, and rocking the 110 back and forth in gear would get it to engage. I replaced all the battery cables and the starter motor, and bench tested them and they always engage and spin when not installed.

Now i've got a proper workshop i've been able to troubleshoot it more - basically when the three starter bolts are loose it will engage and start every time. When I tighten up the bolts it clicks and doesn't spin.

What should I touque the bolts to?

Is it possible that the starter motor is mounted too close and some sort of shim will allow it to work and be done up?

I'm a bit at a loss on this one!

[Blknight.aus]

check for a crack on the starter housing near the pivot of the actuator arm for the starter gear.

it could also be the bolts holding the solenoid to the housing a bit out of shape.

[Bearman]

Is it the correct starter? I think 11 teeth is the correct one..

[flagg]

Thanks guys. I took it out and gave it a good look but can’t see any cracks. It definitely has 11 teeth and fits well.

I’ve set up two light globes - on wired on the main power and the other on the solenoid so I can see what’s happening on the electrical front- both are illuminating as expected.

If the small gear hits the teeth of the main gear on the engine before the terminals touch in the starter that would cause it to not spin wouldn’t it? It’s the only thing I can think of but I don’t understand how it would just start to happen randomly then consistently.

[flagg]

Now that I've put it back in, its not engaging at all - even when left a bit loose.

While it was out I bench tested it again and it worked every time. I bought an other new starter motor that did the same - it was fine on the bench then wouldn't engage when fitted.

A long time ago, I had a bad earth from the battery to the chassis, it manifested with a slow turning starter motor that was different to this so I i've ruled that one out.

[theelms66]

Check all the main bellhousing to engine bolts are present and tight