Need XKE help

[Healey 100]

Friends:

I am taking a break from my Healey 100 and working on a friend's '69 Series II XKE.

The starter can barely turn this engine over, even with a brand new battery and cables. Suspect starter is bad. Any recommendations about where to get one at a reasonable price? Or am I on the wrong track?

Thanks in advance.

Bill.

 

[Basil]

You didn't mention how long the car had been sitting. You might want to pull the plugs and try turning it over by hand just to make sure the motor isnt stuck (not likely, but worth a quick check). If you do need the starter rebuilt, I'd recommend you talk to the folks at Terry's Jaguar in Benton, IL. They have a web site:
Terrys Jaguar

Also, there's a place in California called XK's Unlimited and they happen to have a "gear reduction" starter for the XKE on sale right now for $169 as of today 27 Oct 03 (can't say how long it will be on sale) If you can determine for sure yours is bad, it sounds like a very reasonable sub for the original. Here's the link:

XKE Starter Sale

[ 10-27-2003: Message edited by: Basil ]</p>

 

[Healey 100]

Thanks, Basil, that is great information -- especially that gear reduction unit.

Believe it or not I found that Autozone carries a rebuilt starter on their website for $131 with a $50 core.

My engine is free, I can turn it over easily with a wrench. Still, there could be a problem with my battery cables, I am still checking it out.

Removing that starter is definitely not fun!

Bill.

 

[r67cat]

Bill, when I rebuilt my 71 engine last winter I replaced my old starter with one of the gear reduction, high torque starters. The old one worked but drew a lot of current and especially when it was hot seemed to struggle. The new starter works like a dream, and is much lighter too. Bought mine on E-bay(look under XKE) from British Starters. My first experience with these high torque starters was last year when I replaced the starter in my 67 427 Corvette. Though the starter is much smaller in dimension I will spin the big block over probablly
1 1/2 to 2 times faster than a conventional starter, with less power draw, and this engine has an 11:1 compression ratio! So unless your friend is very concerned with originality a modern starter I think is the way to go.

 

[Healey 100]

Thanks for that note r67.

I am impressed with that gear reduction starter. As you suggested, I found many on e-bay, usually running around $165, about the same as XK's sale price. But I ended up ordering the autozone rebuilt unit -- it has a lifetime warranty and they offered to deliver it overnight to my local store for $130, no shipping.

I did it 'cause it was a bit cheaper and all things considered, I would just as soon keep the car original sounding anyway. Only a contortionist can actually see the starter, so appearance really isn't an issue.

Of course, if it won't crank the car, I will not be happy with it. I'll let you know how it turns out, it's supposed to arrive today....

Bill.

 

[John S Farrington]

My experience with the auto zone starter is very disappointing. They are cheap but will not make theeir warranty. If you enjoy taking the starters on and off the car then have at it. I am in the business of E type service and would never sell one. The gear reduction starter is a great piece of work and works on any XK 4.2 liter block including XJs. If you can get out of the Auto Zone , get the gear reduction unit, you will love it.

 

[RF Thom]

Check the ground cable as well. In fact replace it with a cable that goes from the battery and secure the other end to a trans bolt, or even better get a longer one that would reach over and attach under one of the starter mounting bolts. You may have a high resistance ground strap under the car which is limiting the curent available to spin the starter. Review the circuit a] nice shielded protected cable to solenoid & starter, but the return is through a short ground strap between the engine & body, then the same from the body to the battery. These get broken strands inside which limit their ability to carry high current loads. Remember Ohm's Law V/A=R.

Regards, Bob

 

[Healey 100]

Friends:

I did get the Autozone starter and it spins the engine over excellently. Obviously, the problem was with the original starter. I had checked the cables and grounds pretty carefully prior to R&R on that starter.

I hope that it works out better than Jack's experience with them. I would not want to put in another one soon, it is a most unpleasant job. I'm sure if it fails soon I will lick my wounds and spring for the gear reduction unit.

Thanks to all for their very useful info on this thread, it was very very helpful.

Bill.