1964 Starter

[sprite]

I need to replace the starter on my 64 B and have one of those lightweight starters but am not sure if they are compatible. My car is negative ground, having been converted many years ago. Am I better off getting a conventional starter? Since the car is now negative ground will a stock starter need to be wired differently to work properly?

 

[TR3driver]

The stock starter does not care about ground polarity, since it uses a wound field. Since both armature and field change polarity, the motor runs the same way regardless of supplied polarity.

I didn't take it apart to see why, but the lightweight gear-drive starter I bought for my TR3 works just fine with the conversion to negative ground. Works great for me, and eliminates that annoying condition where the Bendix kicks out but the engine doesn't start.

 

[drooartz]

I seem to remember that when I was first looking into converting my old Bugeye from positive to negative ground, that there wasn't anything to do with the stock starter (just polarize the generator and of you go).

I'd probably keep the lightweight-style starter.

On an unrelated note, where in RI are you? I grew up in North Scituate, and my parents are still in Smithfield.

 

[sprite]

I seem to remember that when I was first looking into converting my old Bugeye from positive to negative ground, that there wasn't anything to do with the stock starter (just polarize the generator and of you go).

I'd probably keep the lightweight-style starter.

On an unrelated note, where in RI are you? I grew up in North Scituate, and my parents are still in Smithfield.

I was raised in Woonsocket, later lived in Nevada for 20 years and now have retired back in RI in South County.

 

[sprite]

The stock starter does not care about ground polarity, since it uses a wound field. Since both armature and field change polarity, the motor runs the same way regardless of supplied polarity.

I didn't take it apart to see why, but the lightweight gear-drive starter I bought for my TR3 works just fine with the conversion to negative ground. Works great for me, and eliminates that annoying condition where the Bendix kicks out but the engine doesn't start.

Thanks. That is exactly what is happening with the starter in the car now which I believe is the original one so I am not surprised it at the way it kicks out but no starting.

 

[DrEntropy]

Likely the ring gear is worn in one area. The original Bendix gear and the proclivity of the engine to STOP in the same orientation cause a pattern wear in the ring gear that will tend to kick the Bendix out at the same position in the rotation, whether the engine lights or not.

 

[TheOtherBasil]

A gear reduction starter might be the trick for you. It engages from the other side of the flywheel than your original so flywheel wear won't matter and it fires off much better than stock. I get them for MGA for $179 and for 1968-80 MGB for the same price but I'm unsure if either has the correct spacing for the 3 main MGB. If you're interested, let me know and I'll check with the manufacturer. Thanks. Basil (not the Basil that graciously runs this site)

 

[sprite]

Thanks. I purchased one of those lightweight starters many years ago but now I see there are two models and I am not certain if the on I have is compatible with the ring gear on my 64 B.