Thread: S1 wont start

Series 1 should have a starter with a removable cover on the end of the shaft. This should see a square, which can be used to wind the starter out of mesh, which is most likely the problem (will not start the engine moving in many cases if the starter is not moving when load comes on to it). If the starter is a later one without this facility, the only alternative is to turn it with a crankhandle, but this may not be possible if the starter is in mesh, due to the gear ratio, particularly if things are a bit tight.

If the problem really is misalignment, which I doubt, then it will be due to damaged teeth on the flywheel (quite possible), damaged pinion teeth, or bent pinion shaft, or loose starter. There is no adjustment, just fix/replace the necessary bits.

Other possibilities include the engine being seized or very stiff to turn for a whole variety of possible reasons, or the starter poling due to worn bushes, or the starter not working very well due to worn or sticking brushes or dirty commutator.

But first of all, I would make sure that there is not a bad connection somewhere - check the actual voltage at the starter (between the starter terminal and the frame of the starter). This should drop to around eight volts when starting. If there is little drop, the starter has a problem, if the drop is very large (to 1v or less), there is a bad connection somewhere.

John

P.S. I assume when you say ignition clicks, you are actually operating the starter button?

John

If the motor won't turn and the start motor is not meshed

Take the spark plugs out ... and give it a turn

Mike

Still wont start, i pulled out the starter and we had the starter checked its ok and working but not on the car. pulled out the 4 spark plugs, tried turning the engine by hand no turn at all, tried levering the flywheel no budge completely seized. tried towing in gear to loosen things up a little no diff, tried with low range, hi range, in gear in neutral no diff. how can i get the motor to move ... remember 2 weeks ago it started fine and drove.. i did wash the car since so thinking the water got in somewhere and seized rusted in... can the starter turn the motor over if i reconnect or not.. dont wont to pull apart motor or g'box... yet... tried spraying wd40 in spark plugs hoping that will loosen something. any ideas please

Sounds as if the engine has seized, probably due to water getting into the bore of at least one cylinder. (assuming that the last shutdown was normal)

Try filling each cylinder as full as you can with penetrating oil and leave for a few days, then try turning by hand with the plugs out. If this does not work, I am afraid the head will have to come off for inspection at the very least. (if you have compressed air available try blowing into each plug hole and see if you blow any water out - this may tell you which cylinder to concentrate on, plus getting rid of most of the water; if there is any signs of water missing from the cooling system, drain the coolant to below head level.)

You may be able to get more leverage than the crankhandle using a suitable spanner on the nut that is the starting dog.

John

I unseized my 80" by filling the bores with diesolene and leaving it for 2 weeks. It came free with a seriously hearty heave on the starting handle, spraying diesolene all over the place in the process.

If this is the cause of the seizure, investigate how the water got in, or it will happen again

Cheers Charlie

Originally Posted by chazza

If this is the cause of the seizure, investigate how the water got in, or it will happen again

Cheers Charlie

Off with it's head ....

Mike

thanks for all the replies and here is the latest update - poured some runny engine oil in the top of the head via the spark plugs and them some more runny oil to see if this lubricates the engine. poured large amounts of oil in and only the 3rd spark plug hole from the front did not go down others did. im guessing this maybe the prob. radiator is off, sparks out, starter motor off. im going to let it sit for 1 week and then try again on the weekend to see if i can turn the thing over. tried towing the thing in gear front and back but this didnt help either. pulled it 5metres or so. if all else fails i will be taking the head off to inspect further. i have tried turning via the flywheel but dont want to break the teeth, have tried turning on the front crank nut below fan blade but no go either. alternator fan belt off as well.. keep u posted. got to get this thing to turn over. any other suggestions pls

As Chazza said ... Add diesel to the bore and leave it for a couple of days

If number 3 is the offender ... Then this bore only ... check & add to the level "every so often"

You will have to pump it in .. so as mix it in the water & oil solution that is already in it

Mike