3000, starter rattle?

[tri_carb_healey]

hey guys
I TRIED TO START MY HEALEY THIS morning and the motor turned a couple times and then the starter began to rattle and the motor stopped turning. my dad would know wut to do but he passed recently and i wanna get the old girl running any tips would be greatly appreciated any help physically would be compensated. fire away!!!

 

[red57]

Are you hearing the buzz of the solenoid from a low battery? Check voltage at the battery or put a charger/jumper on and see if the 'rattle' goes away.
That's my guess - you guys in Florida have been having colder than normal weather & may be exposing a dead/dying battery.

 

[tri_carb_healey]

ill sure give it a try thanks a bunch.

 

[Randy Forbes]

This starter doesn't rattle...

... it rocks!

 

[tri_carb_healey]

did you get that from moss, i bought a replacement starter from moss like two years ago and the starter itself doesn't rattle it just sounds like it. i should have described it better, but the starter i have in the car now is very simlar to that.

 

[Johnny]

If the starter is original the cables may be rotten. Hard to see until you remove them and open up the rubber insulation. They may look okay, sometimes if you bend them you can hear a 'crunching' sound which is a good indicator. First, as mentioned, I'd check the battery at the solenoid. If it's original, you can press on the back of the solenoid and turn the starter over. Sometimes the solenoid gets 'stuck'.

 

[tri_carb_healey]

i appreciate the tips, tommorow i plan on putting the battery back in and seeing wut she does

 

[Legal Bill]

If a charge to the battery and a check of the connections does not fix it, try to determine if the noise you are hearing is the starter spinning without engaging the flywheel and turning the engine. It can sound like a buzz or a growl more than a rattle. There can be a couple of causes, but it usually requires that you remove the starter to investigate further.

 

[tri_carb_healey]

thanks guys!!! i put the battery back in after a full charge and the motor started turning again!! i was not looking forward to a starter inspection.especially because i wouldnt know what to look for this thing is completely different from the original which lasted like forty years.
the next step will be solving why the car sputters and stalls when i try to move it. after some fiddling if nothing happens ill post the dilemna for u brittish car gangsters out there. thanks again

 

[Bob_Spidell]

...the next step will be solving why the car sputters and stalls when i try to move it...

Sounds like fuel delivery problems.

 

[tri_carb_healey]

fuel pump is good i believe the problem lies in the carbs, i know how to take apart and fiddle with the floater assembly, but ive never removed the dashpot and further more when i do remove it ill have no idea wut inspect for issues. the post will come up soon after i mess with the carbs a little.

 

[Legal Bill]

They have manual chokes that must be used until the cars warm up a bit. If you just use the choke to start the car and then push it back in, the car will sputter.

 

[tri_carb_healey]

the first of the three carbs likes to spill gas from the top of the carb is this a fault of the floater itself or the "tppet assembly above it?"

 

[Legal Bill]

If the gas is coming from the bowl overflow tube (or hole if there is no tube), the problem could be:

1. Poorly adjusted float
2. leaking float
3. Worn needle valve
4. Worn valve seat
5. Dirt or rust stuck between the needle and seat

Disconnect the fuel lines to the bowl, unscrew the screw holding the cover on the bowl, remove the cover and all the above potential problems will be right in your hand.

 

[tri_carb_healey]

i have these crappy plastc valve seats, do u know where i can find some brass ones, i got the from victoria brittish