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Breakdown prevention?

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T

Tinster

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I hoping to have Crypty semi-functional within
the next ten days. Maybe even off blocks!

I'm trying to anticipate the next breakdown cause
and maybe fix it before I am left stranded.

The Car has started making a loud, piercing, schreeching
sound when I turn the ignition key to start. One or two
attempts with schreeching and car then cranks normally.

Is this loud noise coming from the solenoid or the starter
itself? Should I replace both before I attempt to drive the
car again? The noise is really loud and hurts the ears,
so it must be important.

thanks,

d /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grouphug.gif
 
That would be the next thing to fix. Probably the starter and not the solenoid.
 
Sounds like the starter pinion gear is having trouble engaging with the flywheel. Remove the starter, and inspect both the pinion gear on the starter, and the teeth on the flywheel. You will have to turn the engine over by hand to see all of the teeth on the flywheel. You can take off that inspection plate on the lower section of the trans to make viewing easier then looking through the hole where the starter mounts. Post some pics of the pinion gear when you get it out.
 
Dale:
My best guess would be A dry bushing in the starter motor causing the screaching sound. Where as a bad Starter gear or flywheel gear would make more of a grinding sound than screaching, I would think. The solonoid to my knoledge doesn`t have anything inside of it that would screach. Once you have removed the starter, most auto parts supply stores can bench test it for you. They may even have the replacement bushings and brushes if you care to try and rebulid it yourself. Getting the old bushings out of the end plates is the hardest part, the rest is a piece of cake.
Kerry
 
I have always said the best thing to prevent breakdowns is to simply not drive the car. I have never been stranded in my own garage even once and I have owned 7 LBC's over the years.
Seriously, you have to be close to a total ground up nut and bolt restoration. Go for it.
 
Seeing that you live a long way away and there is considerable water between us I feel safe with this..../bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

You could fasten Cripty to a trailer and have Wendy pull you around the island while wearing a tweed cap, long flowing scarf, and goggles. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif

Seriously, I am pulling for you and anxiously await the time when you feel confident to tour with Cripty.

As far as the squealing, that is generally a sign of a lack of lubrication. Possibly starter bushings, or bearings if you have a gear-reduction starter. The faster the rpm the higher the pitch. So you can look for something that you might imagine turning at a speed to make the pitch you are hearing.
 
Art et al--

David and I both inspected the flywheel teeth
during the new clutch installation. All teeth
looked to be in fine and dandy condition.

I need to run the car engine a little bit to make
sure the new fuel delivery system is 100% functional,
does not leak and does not flood the new carbs.

Then I'll pull the starter and see what it looks like.
The starter and solenoid and water pump are all
DPO Pedro's... so it's a given they've been buggered up
and will result in a breakdown for me.

I'll post some photos when I pull the starter. My block
is a 1968 TR250. My tranny a TR4A. Would that effect which
replacement starter I purchase?

Thanks,

d
 
Roofman-

You're fairly close on that one. My last
breakdown occurred after the car was driven a
grand total of 28 feet and then died.

I did actually have one breakdown in the garage
with the car on blocks.

DPO Pedro still has plenty of things to cause me breakdowns.
The depth to which he has buggered up this once fine auto is
incredible. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/pukeface.gif

d
 
Hi,
this is just mt 2 cents worth. Replace the stater. Have a good look at the fly wheel to make sure there are no broken teeth.

The biggest problem with these cars from what I can see is lack a general preventive maintenance. I just purchased one last summer. I'm still trying to get it road worthy. Most of the problems with it have been the DPOs. Nothing was repaired correctly. The car is in good shape structurally but rubber and lubrication does not last 35 years. You have to keep up with the general maintenance. You have to replace the parts the are worn out.

The car was driven for delivery half the way across Florida. from 50-60 MPH it shock like crazy. AT 75 ----smooth. The 25 year old red lines were replace along with the the ball and tie rods and rack. The rest of the bushing will be replaced this winter. These cars are generally reliable if maintained properly. I am an aircraft mechanic by trade and have kept aircraft older that this in the air on a regular basis. It just takes time and money.

Good luck.

Steven
 
Tinster - Do you have a Lucas starter? Sometimes with a weak solenoid, the starter will start spinning before the pinion gets meshed into the ring gear. The pinion then clatters against a tooth or two on the ring gear. It might not be a screech, but it sure is loud, like if you hit the starter on a running engine.

Mine started out doing that once every 5 starts and wasn't too long before it did it every other time. (It seemed to not do it if I pressed and released the clutch...for a while). I removed and rebuilt the starter as best I could, including unsoldering, dismantling and cleaning the solenoid. I replaced the starter relay with a $6 headlight relay (I don't think early 6s used a relay). Problem free for a year now.

Has anyone with a "Hi Torque" starter had this "failure to engage" problem?

Jeff
74 TR6 CF13816U
 
Jeff
my starter motor engages O.K., but is making an unusual noise when winding down after starting the motor. The folks on this forum suggest the gear reduction units especially for the high compression motors such as mine (Lucas injection). I think I will make the swap.
By the way, you look like a good candidate for a post on 'Photo thru my windshield'. You could show Tinster what a proper beach looks like......
Regards
Craig
 
Dale
In order to answer this properly, we really need to know what type of starter you have.

If you have the original,it is probably looks like a big black pipe, and is called an Inertial starter, basically these spin up real quickly, and the acceleration forces the pinion into the flywheel gear.
More modern types, usually look like they have an extra "hump" on them. They work in a different fashion, the hump is a solenoid which pulls the pinion into the flywheel gear and then turns on the starter motor.

I don't remember your having replaced the starter so you probably have the original type.
If so, is the sound like gears grating on each other (hitting the starter after the engine is already going?) then you problem is mostly the pinion and unless it is badly worn, you should just clean the pinion in solvent and put it all back together.

If it is some sort of high pitched screech, then it is more likely the bearings, which are just bronze type bearings. Take it apart, clean it (gently!) and lube the front and rear bearings. I would use a drop of moly grease (like what is used for CV joints), and put it back together.
If you ignore it, the bearings will be ruined, and the motor bits will start rubbing (which may already be happening) that will quickly ruin the starter.
Yisarel
 
so far I have only been stranded once and I didnt even have a flash light in the TR6, it turned out to be the rotor, a 2 dollar part, well now I have some tools in the trunk, several spare rotors, cap, and plugs, at least I can check to see if the plugs are getting spark!
 
Yisarel,

Here is a photo of the starter. I suppose I really need to
know the make and model before I even think about repairing
or replacing it.

Again,

My engine block is a 1968 TR250.

Anyone able to tell me what starter I have ??

thanks,

d
starter1.jpg


progressFuel13june.jpg
 
Hi Dale,
Just back from two weeks vacation, so just trying to catch up on things.
Is the "$7 Million dollar fuel delivery system" shown above actually a coffee cup that may be full of fine P.R. Rum-fuel?
T
 
Tom- Nope! Here's to date:

The system in question is a result of PDO Pedro's fuel pump
failing and leaving me stranded about 30 miles from home on
the side of a busy highway. Yes, I had a spare in my trunk
and switched it out.

Long story short, DPO Pedro's Jap fittings buggered up my
new pump, then DPO Pedro's buggered up fuel lines failed
and I was forced to rip out the entire fuel delivery system
and have one custom made. That also failed because of DPO
Pedro's gas tank filled with crud. The tank is presently
ripped out also.

Here is a photo of the first version of my new fuel delivery
system. Several system modifications have taken place since
the photo was taken as well as two float chamber gaskets
from Shawn.

All total about $700 spent on DPO Pedro's lastest breakdown
for me. Thus the $7 million fuel system!~

Five in-line fuel filters in the final delivery system
plus an emergency fuel shut off valve. Each carb has it's
own seperate, final mini-filter.
comboLines.jpg
 
Almost 2 years of daily commuting in my Six and no breakdowns yet.

I always keep in the trunk:
- brake fluid,
- a few tools
- reflectors/flares

In my pocket:
- cellphone

In my wallet:
- AAA card
 
Been about a year and a half now since my last breakdown.

I was on the highway and heard a clunk,
nothing seem to be wrong till I got off the exit and realized I had no clutch. The pin came out of the slave and the rod went flying.....


thank you AAA!
 
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