Starter Motor Freeze?

[tekspeek]

I've been driving my '64 TR4 all summer and have never had a (major) problem with starting. Once in a while the Bendix spring pops out and I have to re-crank.

Anyway, after sitting for about 2 weeks in normal weather (Cincinnati - rain, heat, humidity) I returned from a trip and went to fire her up. She started right away, normal. I turned her off and tested a new windshield wiper motor I just purchased. Motor works so off to the store to buy some grease for the cable.

"Click"

Several clicks later I saw a bit of smoke coming from the starter motor. It looks like it's locked up.

There were no indications of a problem before this incident. I'll be pulling the starter motor this weekend but I wanted to know if there is a known issue with starter motors and this condition. In otherwords, what should I expect when I pull off the motor?

(I did start the engine and drive it to the store (parked on an incline) and there was no sound like the pinion gear jammed into the flywheel gear.)

 

[Andrew Mace]

Have you checked and cleaned all the major connections, including battery and solenoid as well as the terminal on the starter? It might simply be dirty contacts, which could explain the smoke.

As for the Bendix spring "popping out," rinse off -- with a good parts cleaner or solvent -- the Bendix gear while you have the starter out. But don't be tempted to lubricate it, at least not with oil. Maybe a touch of a dry graphite lube, but that's it.

All in all, I give 50-50 odds that the above will solve your starter problems.

 

[tekspeek]

I didn't want to mention that I 'mis-trouble shot' the condition. As Andrew mentioned I did suspect the connections so when I was picking up grease for the wiper motor I also picked up new battery cables ( + and -) cleaned the connections on the battery and replaced the cables.

I did not replace the cable from the solenoid to the starter motor. I'll check that out tomorrow.

Thanks