Thread: Metallic Click Of Death

That's a Bendix drive starter and relies on a spiral spline on the shaft to fling the gear into contact with the ring gear. Usually all they need is cleaning and oiling the shaft where the gear slides up and down. Regular maintenance for a Bendix drive is the key.

Better to use graphite powder to lubricate as it doesn't attract dust/dirt to jam it up again (the rear main seal may provide lubricant but shouldn't.....).
The high inertia as it initially spins drives the gear along the spiral and into engagement with the ring gear. Sounds like yours is sticky and not quickly disengaging.


Colin

As above. Definitely do not put any oil on it, as this will certainly attract dirt and turn sticky in months at most. Make sure the pinion is free to rotate on the twisted spline, with just the light spring to hold it. When absolutely clean and moving freely, lubricate it with powdered graphite.

If someone has oiled it and this is the problem, use petrol, thinners etc to clean it, but make sure both the external and internal spirals are completely dry before putting graphite on it and reassembling it.

Failure to move the pinion can also result because the starter is slow to speed up. This can be due to a poor battery, poor connections, worn brushes or worn bushes in the starter allowing the armature to "pole". Check the shaft for sideways movement. If there is more than the tiniest bit, it is a strip down and rebush job, before the armature is burnt out, when it will be a new starter job.

Fortunately, this engine is easy to crank start if in reasonable condition and tune!

John

Thanks Gents. The shaft with the springs on it felt very greasy on removal. I'll clean up and get hold of some graphite and see how we go.
cheers,
D

Usually if there is a run on noise it is caused by dry starter motor bush & the armature could be seizing in the back bush. Try a few drops of oil in the hole in the centre of rear plate. Also as already said only use graphite powder on the Bendix, oil will make the bust from the clutch stick to the thread of the Bendix & cause it to stick.

so the B.I.L said he knew an auto-electric guy and would take the starter motor to him for a quick once over. He came back saying the bloke had said it was useless - the armature was badly worn and the brushes had had it. So I took a look. The brushes were all 11-13mm. The bit that the brushes press up to , is that the armature or the commutator? that was ever so slightly worn in from the edge where the brushes wipe. Everything was filthy so I cleaned it all up - put a spot of oil in the middle of the rear plate and stuck 12v through it and it ran and sounded much better. I haven't asked it to do any work yet of course - but I'll pop it back in and see how it goes. There was a round piece of wire at the end which I wasn't quite sure what that was so I just centred it when I put everything back together. There's also about a milimeter of play north to south on the shaft. Not sure whether thats bad or not. Anyway - until I find something better - I'll see how this goes.
cheers,
D

While you have got the end cover off fill the bush with then using your thumbs squeeze booth ends of the bush to force the oil into the pores of the bush then drain the excess oil out. Also those brushes look badly worn in the photo . When the auto lec , said the armature was bad it could have the insulation braking down & shorting in the windings.

Always a good idea to lightly sand the commutator and brushes with some emery tape before re-install.