Advice for new owner please

[Joe Wright]

Hello all,
Need some advice please. The camper has this weird habit on start up at times. It acts as though it has got a flat battery, no spark, doesn't turn over at all. After a few goes of turning the key though it will suddenly spring to life and run fine. Anyone have any ideas what could be going on? Its a 1915 watercooled engine, 1986. Many thanks
Joe

[Bubble Meister]

Does the engine rotate?

[tforturton]

Sounds like a dodgy connection somewhere. Check your ignition switch, plus all connections and (especially) earths.

[a1winchester]

Starter motor brushes??

[Joe Wright]

Thankyou. Ill check all them. No engine doesnt rotate. Very odd

[New Kentish Campers]

For starters (no pun intended) : Bad engine earth, corroded starter motor terminals, dodgy ignition switch....etc.

[Joe Wright]

Thankyou. Will look at all of them tomorrow

[Joe Wright]

No joy yet. Off to the mechanics

[captain Byrne]

Not wanting to deprive your local garage from some much needed work but haven't you thrown the towel in a tad soon?

[Smcknighty]

Don't bother taking it to a garage, it won't do it there for sure. It's just trying to wind you up, don't do anything or it will realise it is winning.


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[Plasticman]

the small wire on the starter solenoid is favorite to be a poor connection
mm

[300CE]

+1 for the wire on the solenoid. You can get to it from the engine bay and it has a spade connector on it - take it off, get a bit of sandpaper on the connection and use a little wire brush to clean up the spade connector. Also check that the wiring to the spade connector is clean.

[kevtherev]

No joy yet. Off to the mechanics

Best you assume the position then.
It really does read like poor or dirty connections.
It's a simple task, clean the electrical connections
Battery terminals, earthing point, starter terminals.

Do you really need a garage to do that?
If that doesn't work then pay for them to change the starter.

[captain Byrne]

Grovelling around on your back for half an hour will probably save you £100. I know what I'd do.

[Ian Hulley]

Starter signal wire
Gearbox nose earth strap
faulty ignition switch

All are known common faults

Ian