Although I sold the 69 Spitfire to my girlfriend, I still work on it. The
latest problem is starting.
The starter will engage initially quite well, and crank the engine
around. At some point the starter disengages, and makes that rrrrrooo sound.
The engine isn't even close to starting yet. It takes her about 10-15
cycles of this rr-rr-rr-rrrrroooo to get going. Even when I do it, it
takes me about 5 trys.
When the engine is warm it starts right up so we don't get to the
premature disengagement.
OK... I pulled the starter and examined its teeth. They are quite shiny
with severe scalloping toward the starter motor side. Would this cause
the disengagement, or is it a symptom of something else? The starter in
my parts box has wear in the same pattern, though slightly less severe.
The teeth are >not< shiny toward the opposite side from the motor.
Doesn't look like they are taking a load there at all.
Remember, the starter always engages the first time (so I don't think it
is a broken tooth on the ring gear) and cranks for many revs the first
time (filling up the carb bowls after a long sit). It never makes the
scraping noise I associate with broken teeth. It just gives up a touch
too soon.
I'd like to put a new starter in, but don't want to wear it the same way
as the last two if it's abnormal.
Thanks!
John M. Trindle | jtrindle@tsquare.com | Tidewater Sports Car Club
'73 MGB E Stock | '69 Spitfire E Stock | '88 RX-7 C Stock
Home Page: http://www.widomaker.com/~trindle
"Ginsberg's Restatement of the Three Laws of Thermodynamics:
You can't win.
You can't break even.
You can't quit."
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