Well, it turned out to be quite simple, after all.
Before reassembling the engine to the gearbox, I had already checked
the ring gear- that seemed to be OK.
I had already done what has been suggested by Paul, i.e. to check the timing.
Next, I cleaned the spiral gear- that was in all likelihood the
culprit, as the starter gear did NOT move freely
- in fact, it was pretty difficult to move it.
Full of expectations I put the starter back into place in the engine
compartment - alas, to no avail!
The problem remained.
I went to a shop where I knew they used to rebuild alternators and
starter motors etc. until about 25 years ago
(they don't do that any more, it is nowadays cheaper to sell a new
one) and spoke to one of the older guys there.
It was immediately clear to him when he saw the starter motor - I
failed to see it, or, rather, I did not recognize it,
simply not knowing what to look for.
The gear teeth were chamfered over about 5 mm of a total of 20 mm length.
He brought me a new gear where the teeth are only chamfered over
about 1 mm and told me the old gear had worn out.
And yes, I put the new gear in and the starter motor works just fine now.
Problem solved!
At 16:14 5-2-2006, I wrote:
>[Only Very Slightly OT]
>
>Hi fellow listers,
>
>I'm having a problem currently with a car with a Lucas starter
>motor, Model M35G,
>(_not_ the pre-engaged type with the solenoid on top of it, where
>the solenoid also
>shifts the gear into active position but rather it is a starter
>motor where the solenoid
>has been placed elsewhere).
>
>The problem is that upon the very first firing of the engine, the
>gear disengages,
>so that the starter motor continues to spin at much higher RPM,
>but without spinning the engine, so that the engine will not start.
>
>I have owned the car for almost 28 years now, but it has not been
>driven for the last 22 years.
>When I remember correctly, the car has been doing this occasionally
>when I still used it as my daily driver,
>until 1982 or so, but not to this extent where I can't get the
>engine started any more.
>
>Before taking the starter motor apart: does anyone have an idea?
>I checked and adjusted the ignition timing so that shouldn't be the cause.
>
>The car is a 1972 Sunbeam Sceptre [Hillman Hunter based].
>
>
>Bert
>who also has a 1970 MGB
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