newbie needs help engine wont idle

[kevtherev]

Stuck solenoid
the lead will get very hot if the motor doesn't turn over, as the solenoid switches on 60 amps of juice, you'll get a lot of heat. Poor connections is generally the culprit, but a shagged motor is also in the frame
I assume the battery earth lead is done up tight to the chassis and the battery post.

remove the starter motor and clean up all the terminals, renew the earth strap to the starter, and any poor wiring.

Or I would be removing the starter and renewing it (£60 by me)
I faffed about with mine for several fruitless months

[spike blonde]

cheers kev, as always a wealth of info, will look at that next.

I would be removing the starter and renewing it (£60 by me)

by this do u mean u can refurb it for £60 or?

spike

[kevtherev]

yes
I bought an exchange unit.. they are quite generic

[spike blonde]

took starter motor out today n yup its burnt out, gonna have to get a new, reconditioned or second hand one cuz i think its beyond refurbing.
best places to get a replacement? any suggestions or recommended sellers?
thanks
spike

[Aidan]

petrol starter on the shelf here refurbished £80 exchange; sorry I'm mad busy workwise so can't get over to help you, I'm surprised Fritz hasn't offered though, he's local to you, mechanic, househusband so loads of time on his hands
I've got a starter for him here too been here months

[spike blonde]

She lives, she lives hahaha
Fitted replacement starter motor over weekend checked all the earths n connections, turned the key and fired up first time, ran and carried on running.... cue me running round the carpark at work like a loon to the bemusement of the crowd of people waiting for it to go up in smoke again.

a few small issues to sort, is running fast but i think that is down to the choke flap needing adjustment, is slightly too open wen running (have noticed that with cover off n push it shut a little revs drop off n it doesnt sound like its revin its t**s off lol), tho if anyone thinks there could be other things to look at please feel free to suggest them.

the only big issue was tonight, went n started van up again n took it for a ride round car park, dont want to commit to road journey till im happy ive set it up right n not headin for another journey on the back of a recovery truck, had engine running for a good ten mins or so to "burn" out the crap in the exhaust system from when the carb was playin up as i believe wen the carb was bad it was pushin too much fuel through causing it to go through the oil breather pipe through the air inlet to the air filter and unburnt fuel(possibly mixed with oil) into the exhaust system.
air filter n oil were easy to sort out, clean n put fresh in but figured only way i would clear the crap in exhaust was to let the heat burn it off, worked of a sorts, runnin it tonight n various bits of exhaust piping smoking but got to a point were i thought thats a lot of smoke lets switch off n make sure its not something else. turned engine off took cover off n looked in to see flames licking out of part of the exhaust, in the haynes its listed as the right hand pipe and heat exchanger (is the bit with two short exhaust openings), cue panic as van on fire yet again especially as it was comin out of the rear hole straight onto my airbox and spark plug lead managed to find something to cover the hole to starve it of air till pipe cooled down enough for it not to re-ignite but now im afraid to run engine again in case it happens again
anyone got any suggestions as to how i can clear the exhaust system without settin fire to van?

Would just like to say a big thanks to all on here for their advice,suggestions and support over the last coupla months, without it i dont think i woulda had the confidence to tackle stripping the carb n replacing starter n woulda either have had to spend hundreds gettin the wrong things fixed or have given up n sold van on by now, y'all know who u are cheers guys n girls, heres to hopin to meet some of u over the next inaugural year of van ownership n buyin u a pint
(a much happier) Spike