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TR6 Starter not engaging consistently

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John_Mc

John_Mc

Jedi Knight
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Hi all,
More and more frequently, my starter is not engaging and thus not turning the motor. Usually it does engage after a few tries, but it's annoying to not have it engage every time. Is this a common problem with a common solution?
https://youtu.be/ujkVLRAK9dk
 
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I had the exact same problem a few years ago. Mine turned out to be the ring gear. It moved away from the shoulder on the flywheel causing the starter not to engage.
This may not be your problem but it’s one thing to check.
 
Next time it happens, don't try again. Put it in 4th gear and push the car forward or back about 3 feet, put the tranny back in Neutral and try again.
Thinking there may be some bad teeth in the flywheel ring gear.
 
I had the same problem; wouldn't engage at all; starter worked fine but not engage. Took it to repair shop; front cap and spacers were missing! Installed repaired starter last week and working fine. May not be your problem, but take a look.
 
Check solenoid for operation. Solenoid can be replaced from starter. Check bendix on starter, has to be removed, it too can be replace or repaired. Or a whole new starter. Options for prices. While starter is out check teeth on flywheel ring for missing teeth and or slip as mention by Elliot.
 
If the starter always turns, but doesn't always engage, seems it wouldn't be the solenoid. It's the bendix drive (pinion gear) not engaging. I think if the solenoid is faulty, starter wouldn't turn at all.

As Elliot said, could be missing teeth in the ring gear, or the bendix is sticking and needs "improvement". Had that problem on my TR3.

Tom M.
PS - if battery voltage is low, sometimes that's what causes the bendix to be unable to push that pinion gear into place.
 
NutmegCT said:
........As Elliot said, could be missing teeth in the ring gear, or the bendix is sticking and needs "improvement"........
Click to expand...
I didn't say "missing teeth".....The problem I had with the starter was that the ring gear moved away from the starter on the flywheel.

The shoulder of the flywheel is at top of pic... the ring gear moved quite a bit making it impossible for the starter to engage in the ring gear.
IMG_2087.jpg
 
I have seen missing/broken teeth do this. Someone mentioned to rock car in gear to turn flywheel so fresh teeth are in line with starter. Low battery can keep the solenoid from throwing the bendix. Needs to be removed tested on bench, measure clearance, check flywheel. It'll keep him busy for a few hours. Has to check, can't just throw a new starter in if the problem isn't realized first. Eliot did say slipped ring gear.
 
I've seen the slipped ring gear, but I have seen more worn/broken teeth. But, if he's turning starter and not engaging, the solenoid might not be strong enough to throw the bendix. I've seen this with sub par batteries too. It's going to take a removal and measure and bench test, and a look at flywheel ring gear.
 
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