Club 80-90 Forums

Just an idea if you're stuck. I would appreciate any comments, even if negative, but not insulting c**p please. I'm only trying to help.
Anyway: The small lead from the solenoid which goes into the main body of the starter had corroded through. I soldered the break as a temporary measure. Today I stripped it down and decided to do a more permanent repair. So, I removed all traces of the braided wire from the sort of wishbone shaped piece inside the main starter body. I then drilled a small hole through the piece that was left (where the braided wire was connected). I then got a piece of a donor starter cable (same piece of wire which is sometimes called a 'pig lead') and soldered the wire to make it a more solid piece. I then filed this down to fit through the pre drilled hole. This was all then soldered into place using a blowlamp with a small flame. A very good soldered joint was made and then the whole lot reassembled. So, in essence, the only mod was that I drilled a hole in the 'wishbone piece' and used this to hold the donor wire in place whilst it was secured with solder. The other end had a loop connector already fitted.
As I said, just trying to help. If the above isn't clear feel free to call me. Mobile number in members help.
btw, tested and works 100%

Love it. Always pleasing to see someone actually sort the fault rather than just buy another 'unit'. Its a common cause of failure as you know, often producing intermittent dead-starter symptoms before finally giving up the ghost. I'm impressed. If only more were willing to make repairs of this nature.

I would suggest only using high melting point solder for this repair.

Jeff J wrote:I would suggest only using high melting point solder for this repair.

Got it from a retired auto electrician. He knew what I was doing so I assume (hopefully correctly) that he gave me the right stuff. (I'd run out of the ordinary stuff - maybe just as well then). I didn't realise you could get high melting point solder. I did think about using some plumbers solder that I have

Definitely worth lathering your 'GOOD' braided cables with grease ala brake pipes etc....to slow down or even stop this happening. Same would apply to braided earth cables (on the gearbox, battery and chassis to engine).

Martin