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Starter issues?

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Atrus

Atrus

Jedi Warrior
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I’ve continually had this problem. I am unsure if it’s due to improper engine tuning, or if it’s the starter, or something else entirely.

I’ve had no real trouble with the starter engaging (or, more accurately, not engaging). Every time I turn the key, it engages. While I am trying to start the car (cold engine), it’ll crank the engine, the engine will sputter a bit (I still have the starter engaged) and then it’s like the starter just slips off the flywheel. The starter will free spin while the engine stops sputtering. I have to turn the car off and attempt cranking it again. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, sometimes only 1-2 times, occasionally it’ll take multiple attempts. If the car is cold, it’s very common that it happens at least once – probably 90-95% of the time it won’t start on the initial crank. When the car is warm, the engine catches almost immediately and is off and running.

Any suggestions?? Does it sound like the throwout isn’t going far enough or isn’t strong enough and the gear slips back between the rest position and the flywheel and freespins?
 
Sounds like I would spend 30 bucks for a new starter and the heck with it.

Local autozone will have em.
 
You may want to remove the starter and lubricate the bendix (throw-out) shaft. Use a fairly light grease or even oil, and work it to make it slide freely. It sounds like it may have been lubricated with too heavy a grease which is getting too thick in cold weather, or there is no lub at all!!
 
And no telling how long and how worn. New ones are cheep and you know they are OK and have a one year warntee.
 
That is a common issue with inertia type starters. I don't think you will have much luck just changing the starter out unless you change to a pre-engaged type of starter. One thing I have found is that if you have a weak battery or poor connections the starter will spin slower and exacerbate the problem. As a test you can run jumpers off of a running vehicle or boost type battery charger and see if the problem is less noticeable.
 
Tunebug's starter does that sometimes as well. I just sort of live with it for now.

I'll be switching over to a modern starter when I get the 1275/5-speed built.
 
Couple of things I probably should have been clearer on. The first is that it’s not a cold-weather only thing. Even on 90* summer days, if the engine is cold (not started that day), it happens quite often where the starter will end up free-spinning. When the engine is warm, it starts much more easily, so as long as the starter engages at all the engine will catch.

The other thing is that I suppose there always is the possibility of shoddy connections, however, as far as I remember mine are clean and have no corrosion. I’ll have to double check. The battery is fairly new, although, it has had a rough life as I’ve run it down a few times due to various incidents. I also have completed an alternator conversion, so the battery is charged fairly well.

I honestly can’t remember if the issue occurred when jumping off another vehicle or not. I want to say that it did, however, I could be completely wrong.

So, we have an inertia-starter as stock. I don’t have the post with me (it’s in my favs on my home PC), but I
remember reading about a “modern” starter that will bolt in – if I remember correctly, it might have been
an Isuzu starter? If I am on track, is that the same inertia-style, or would that kick out via some type of
solenoid? I honestly can’t think of how starters work in “modern” cars – they aren’t an inertia type, are
they?


Jack, the $30 starter - is that a 1275 replacement, or is it filed for a different vehicle that will fit the 1275? For $30, I'd say it's worth a shot even just to know the age. For all I know, this thing could be 40 years old in there now. I have no clue of how old or when it'll totally die.
 
Atrus - I'll add that my starter does the same thing if I haven't started the car for a while and it takes more than a pull or 2 to get it to start. I had always put it down to "that's just they way it works" but I can believe that there's more to it than that.
 
As I remember the starter even fits a 64 Plymouth Duster.

I can not find the reference at the moment but I'm sure some one has it. I have one on Miss Agatha even. In fact it came through as a rebuilt Lucas, fine starter.
 
ChrisS is correct, inertial starters will do that. If the engine gives a brief "cough", it will drive the starter pinion out of engagement, hence the freewheeling. My dad's '47 Lincoln does it too, as does my '77 Midget. Replacing the starter won't matter any, unless you upgraded to one of those high-torque starters I see advertised in Moss and VB. Those appear to be pre-engaged starters. What I usually do is when mine give the brief "cough", I'll give it a little more gas, crank it again and it usually starts fine then.
 
I'am not anywhere near an expert when it comes to these cars, but what I can say is that my 65 sprite had the exact same problem. It started doing the same but it keep getting worse until the starter was replace with a rebuild one. Now the problem no longer persist.
 
The starter drive is meant to be run dry. The worst thing you can do is lube it! The service manual stresses this point. (Wash in kerosene and dry with an air blast.)
Jeff
 
You are right Jeff! I thought about that after I posted!! However some graphite powder is acceptable and will keep a sticky unit free! In any case, I agree with Jack and a couple of other posters. A new starter is not that expensive and should solve the problem. If it recurs, the new starter will be under warranty!
 
Think I got the first one on the list, guess it was 45 bucks. Cheep and fast anyway.
 
Thanks for the help guys, I think I'll be ordering a new starter!
 
Advanced Auto Parts, if you have one nearby, would probably have one in stock, or can get it in a day or two at most!
 
There's an advanced store fairly close to me, however, I'm in no hurry. 20* weather with an uninsulated/unheated garage, I'll wait till spring /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
Can't blame you there! But I would get a little jump on it so you can go out driving in the spring!
 
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