Slant Six Forum
https://slantsix.org/forum/

New mini starter -- Justs spins -- No engagement!
https://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40398		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  bwhitejr [ Thu May 27, 2010 4:35 am ]
Post subject:  New mini starter -- Justs spins -- No engagement!
I put a new mini starter on my 80 SL6. It bolted right up. The starter solenoid pulls in and the starter spins happily away, but there is no engement with the flywheel whatsoever.

I didn't compare the old starter with the new in terms of the nose length. Maybe that is it. Or it could be the shim is in the way of the bendix.

I can't remember whether I got this thing from eBay or the auto parts store. If it came from the auto parts store I think I asked for a 1996 Dodge Dakota starter. Sorry it has been a couple of years since I bought the thing.

Where do I look for the problem, while it is still bolted up?

Thanks,
bwhitejr
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Thu May 27, 2010 9:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: New mini starter -- Justs spins -- No engagement!
Quote:
I put a new mini starter on my 80 SL6. It bolted right up. The starter solenoid pulls in and the starter spins happily away, but there is no engement with the flywheel whatsoever. I didn't compare the old starter with the new in terms of the nose length. Maybe that is it. Or it could be the shim is in the way of the bendix.
Neither of those is the problem.
Quote:
I can't remember whether I got this thing from eBay or the auto parts store.
If you bought it as a "100% new" starter, whether from eBay or a parts store, it is a Chinese copycat item--not a genuine Japanese-made Nippondenso unit. As with all other Chinese copycats, quality is "luck of the draw" at best.

If you bought it as a "remanufactured" starter, quality of those is also iffy.
Quote:
Where do I look for the problem, while it is still bolted up?
You don't/can't. It has to come off. Either the drive pinion isn't being shifted into place by the solenoid, or it is but the drive clutch is dead or missing...or the starter was assembled with an incorrect (too small) drive pinion for the application.
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Thu May 27, 2010 6:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Not that it is your problem, but I tore my hair out last year, with a starter not spinning the engine. Turned out the starter was turning backwards, due to a battery with reverse polarity.
There was other damage to the vehicles electrical system, also.
Author:  ValiantOne [ Fri May 28, 2010 8:23 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Not that it is your problem, but I tore my hair out last year, with a starter not spinning the engine. Turned out the starter was turning backwards, due to a battery with reverse polarity.
There was other damage to the vehicles electrical system, also.
Charrlie that is funny. I had the same thing happen once back in the 1980's. Darn near drove me NUTS!
Author:  Wesola78 [ Fri May 28, 2010 1:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
If you did buy it at a parts store, try to remember which one. Even if you lost the receipt, most parts stores can look up the invoice by your phone number. It could have a lifetime warranty.
It's worth looking into.
Author:  Charrlie_S [ Fri May 28, 2010 5:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
You know, just thinking about my previous post about the reversed polarity battery. Whether a "new" Chineese, or a rebuilt starter, it is not impossible that the coils are connected wrong, and the starter is spinning backwards. It would be unusual but not impossible, more likely the a reversed battery. Easy enough to check, with the starter removed, and connected to a battery on the bench.
Author:  Pierre [ Sat May 29, 2010 2:26 am ]
Post subject: 
Before I knew better, I bought a Powermaster brand mini starter. Eventually it did the same thing, spin freely without turning the motor. When I called them up (this was past its warranty) they told me it most likely needed a $50 "clutch kit".

Assuming one does have a starter running backwards, wouldn't it still turn the engine backwards?
Author:  wjajr [ Sat May 29, 2010 5:05 am ]
Post subject: 
Pierre:
Quote:
Assuming one does have a starter running backwards, wouldn't it still turn the engine backwards?
No. The backwards spin would not engage the little drive gear of the starter to the ring gear. Kind of like; trying to drive a screw with the drill motor in reverse. Spins nicely but won’t bite in.
Author:  olafla [ Sat May 29, 2010 12:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
If the starter has been lying around and may have a little corrosion or hardened grease in the engagement parts, and old trick is to whack it carefully a couple of times with a soft mallet or hammer while trying to start. Be careful not to strike it to hard!
Olaf
Author:  bwhitejr [ Mon May 31, 2010 2:35 pm ]
Post subject:  New mini starter - Update
I took the new mini off, compared the nose length and the amount of travel by the gear. Both travelled 3/4" (the new mini and old one). I connected the mini to the car wiring (to make sure it wasn't part of the problem) and tested it that way. It moved the bendix as before and spun, so I installed it. When I hit the key it amde a funny scraping noise, but started the engine. I stopped the engine and tried it again. It made a similar noise and started. I got on line an ordered a new solenoid assembly from Rock Auto and installed that in the old starter and remounted it. Works fine now. Just don't know what was making the noise on the mini starter. I suspect the cable from the starter realy to the starter is getting old and broken inside. I will be replacing it next.
Doesn't have the zing it should have, like when it is connected to the battery through jumper cables.

bwhitejr
Page 1 of 1 All times are UTC-08:00
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited
https://www.phpbb.com/