Club 80-90 Forums

Have starter issues. Bench test:

It seems that there is no (or at least little) earth even with starter off. For instance, normally you can ground the body with a jump lead then touch motor terminal (one that goes into motor body) and flick ignition connection and get a response. I don't. Neither do I get a response from solenoid on its own - just minor sparks.

Scrub that. Found the fault.

Pulled the end off the starter motor. Two problems and likely connected. Firstly, commutator black. Secondly braided wire from solenoid held on by at most six strands. Right, soldering iron and sandpaper....

Will post some pics - might as well.

Video easier:

With end cap off starter (two long and two short screws plus a clip) the fault is obvious. No response from solenoid or motor means there has to be a major break in the circuit somewhere

Works great now. Have come across this once before and also seen corroded braid. In this instance the starter is less than a year old. Just a lousy soldering job by whoever rebuilt it for GSF. Brushes fine. It had been getting temperamental for a while and wasn't exactly Billy Whizz even from day one. No wonder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNKSeAAd3rk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I am surprised that the braid isn't tinned - it would solve a lot of the corrosion issues there. Also I cleaned up the spade terminals and soldered the wire directly to it and brought the connection into the engine bay to cut down on that corrosion that always builds up leading to a dicky solenoid operation.
Tip for anyone resoldering the braid - clamp the braid close to the soldering point with mole grips or the like and you can prevent the solder wicking up the braid. Also you will find it easier if you use an external flux on the steel as flux cored solder tends to not have an aggressive enough action on steel. I use La-Co flux for steel and others.

Interesting. Wasn't aware of an external grade of flux (plumbers?). I seemed to get a good fix but if it starts playing up again I'll buy a brand new braid and repeat the exercise. Makes you wonder how many 'dead' starters get traded in (at huge cost) for the sake of what might be a minor issue that could be sorted. Brushes can be a pig to do in terms of getting a good fix but they ARE dooable.

Bolted it in and reconnected everything. Whooooosh! No way was that starter that fast out of the box. Clearly either it wasn't fully tested with a meter or the braid parted company before it got to GSF. Poor show really. Nice to have that "Ofcourse it'll start" feeling back again rather than me and my son repenting our sins every time I put the key in.

Hopefully the video may help someone. If theres nothing from motor OR solenoid out of the vehicle (and lets face it its highly unlikely both would fail), it'll be that braided link.

If its intermittent starting, it could just be worn brushes and/or dirty commutator if all external connections are sound and battery in good order.

Right, now to de-grease myself and tidy everything away. Reminds self to buy that flux....

That is used for plumbing also - it has the advantage that you can wash it away with water/wet rag when you are done.

OldieButGoodie said
"Also you will find it easier if you use an external flux on the steel as flux cored solder tends to not have an aggressive enough action on steel. I use La-Co flux for steel and others"

Good tip there...

Other uses for starter motors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrqnMQ9rPGo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Or if you want to go faster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5lp3fP1WKo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Almost gets whiplash

CovKid wrote:Have starter issues. Bench test:

Bit confused here as I am sure you would know not to test the starter off the vehicle due to the lack of an internal bearing at the cog end.

Hope the guy in the first video doesn't think he can weld!

CovKid wrote:Other uses for starter motors: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrqnMQ9rPGo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



Or if you want to go faster https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5lp3fP1WKo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Almost gets whiplash

God that takes me back in time...
Built some elec vehicles back in the 80s for a Lucas "how far can you travel" challenge. Held at Donnington park, using the finishing straight and the pit lane.
Lots of competitors used starter motors, but their batteries didnt last the 2 hours of the challenge.
My mate and I built a go-cart with a 12v lawnmower motor, bike gears and "pram" wheels, unfortunately my welding was crap.....
Great fun though.

T

Acceleration on that go cart is well impressive

If a T25 had that kind of pull away I think I'd give up driving.

A spare battery and starter are easy enough to obtain but could someone tell me how I employ someone to assist with the push starts each and every time I wish to venture out??

That's what people get married for - free workhorse.