2.25 Diesel starter motor problems

[Tank]

My son's SIII 109 2.25 diesel starter has decided not to work, He is in Kalgoorlie WA and I'm on the East coast.
Sounds like the battery is flat when you kick it over, just a few slow revs and that's it the wiring is getting hot, it's not the battery as he has tried Jump start and replacing with a fully charged battery. Do these starters have problems that I could pass onto him, are they watertight, he just flushed mud and pebbles out of the bellhousing. Do they have any common faults, it was working perfectly one minute and wouldn't start the next, any tips, hints, help appreciated, Regards Frank.

[isuzurover]

My son's SIII 109 2.25 diesel starter has decided not to work, He is in Kalgoorlie WA and I'm on the East coast.
Sounds like the battery is flat when you kick it over, just a few slow revs and that's it the wiring is getting hot, it's not the battery as he has tried Jump start and replacing with a fully charged battery. Do these starters have problems that I could pass onto him, are they watertight, he just flushed mud and pebbles out of the bellhousing. Do they have any common faults, it was working perfectly one minute and wouldn't start the next, any tips, hints, help appreciated, Regards Frank.

Sounds like the resistance is too high.

1st thing to check is all the connections are tight and rust/mud free. I had to fit a 2nd earth to mine to the near the starter.

If all the connections are good, try giving the starter a few whacks with a hammer. If that doesn't help then it sounds like the starter may need to come out...

I recently had similar problems after doing a bit of mud driving (slow cranking and positive cable getting hot). All I did was spray all the connections with WD40 and it was fine again.

[JDNSW]

Ben is probably right, poor connection somewhere, most likely the earth - unless the battery is earthed to the engine or gearbox suspect the engine to chassis earth. Another suspect is the contacts in the solenoid.

However last time I had this problem with that engine (forty years ago), it was the starter motor bushes worn allowing the armature to touch the poles. Relatively easy to fix provided the owner has not tried too hard to get it to start and burnt out the armature.

John

[fraser130]

you mentioned something about flushing sand and pebbles?
years ago mine started cranking slowly, all it was was the bearing/bush at the gearbox end had dried up, a quick removal, a bit of a squirt with an oil/grease mix, and it was as good as new. could the "flushing" have washed away the lubrication there?

fraser

[Aaron IIA]

Take the starter out, pull it appart and clean it properly. Check to see that the end bush is not worn. If it is, the armature will touch the field housing, and make turning difficult. Make sure all electrical contacts are clean and tight. Alternatively, a starter from a Tdi engine fits and works well. That is what I now run.

Aaron.

[Tank]

Take the starter out, pull it appart and clean it properly. Check to see that the end bush is not worn. If it is, the armature will touch the field housing, and make turning difficult. Make sure all electrical contacts are clean and tight. Alternatively, a starter from a Tdi engine fits and works well. That is what I now run.

Aaron.
Thanks all, starter out, one of the brush springs was broken, replaced and working again, Regards Frank.

[JDNSW]

Thanks all, starter out, one of the brush springs was broken, replaced and working again, Regards Frank.

That one was easy, then, and presumably fairly cheap. But I must say it is many years since I have run across that particular problem on any starter!

John

[Tank]

John, there was water in the bottom part of the starter as the rubber seal on the end cap was buggered, I would say this has been a regular occurrence and the bottom/lowest brush spring was rusted and very brittle, Regards Frank.

[JDNSW]

John, there was water in the bottom part of the starter as the rubber seal on the end cap was buggered, I would say this has been a regular occurrence and the bottom/lowest brush spring was rusted and very brittle, Regards Frank.

Ah! Just what I like - a real explanation for an unusual fault. Thank you.

John