Starter Motor Pinion

[fattyw 0]

Dealing with a non-starting Mi-16. My searches in the forum have taken me to the starter motor. I'm getting a replacement but was hoping for some insight in the meantime.

 

My issue appears to be a starter pinion gear that is not properly contacting the flywheel. Car turns over initially but starter sounds like its jamming. Removal and examination of flywheel suggests some wear on teeth, but nothing major. Pinion gear looks ok.

 

I disassembled the starter just to see. My 205 Haynes references an "engagement level pivot pin....of eccentric type...rotation and final setting control the end stop clearance". The pin has three groves at one end, but I can't tell why this would adjust clearance. I played with this a bit, but saw no difference.

 

Anyone know if this is where I might adjust and get better contact by the pinion gear (and thus start the car)?

 

Cheers,

Fatty

[lagonda 42]

Hi, sorry I'm not familiar with Mi16 starter, but would have thought an adjustment to pinion travel an unlikely refinement. I think your best bet is to spin the starter over off the car. You'll need jump leads to the main body (flange is ideal) and the large terminal, with another wire to touch on the solenoid connection to actually operate it.

TWO POINTS! While you're doing this, get a mate to hold the starter down firmly under his foot. Otherwise it could scoot off anywhere. Don't spin it over for long. It is capable of reaching speeds not intended, which could cause internal damage, ie detached wiring. You are only checking where the pinion moves to, so a couple of seconds should be more than enough.

I would have thought your trouble is either a feeble solenoid, or resistance in the wiring leading to it. Be annoying to buy a new starter to find the trouble is with your loom. Would also be worth checking out your earth contacts between battery and engine, & also ensure starter to block mating faces are scrupulously clean & not oily/greasy.

Also possible some dirt/grit is stopping pinion travelling full length, or wear in the mechanism is preventing full travel.

If there really is an adjustment, it could only be at the pivot pin for the fork that moves the solenoid, try turning that & see what happens, or withdraw it & see if there is any eccentricity evident!

Laurence

[James_m 0]

There is some adjustment on the bracket that attaches to the block. Just slacken off the bolts which holds it onto the starter motor and can move it closer or further away from the block iirc.

[fattyw 0]

Gents-

 

Thanks much for the input. I'm picking up some spares (incl. alt and starter), but in the meantime, I'll definitely give it a test (both standalone) and loosened bolts.

 

Other advice I'd read somewhere was to loosen the bolts and give it a start so the starter can 'find its place' in the flywheel gears. I'll check for weak solenoid first and then rig it back.

 

As to that test, can you help confirm the setup?

 

 

+ve to large terminal + solenoid connection

-ve to body flange (for ground)

 

 

I was simply going to do w/ a pair of small jumper cables -- but the connection to the solenoid needs to come off the +ve as well?

 

 

Really appreciate your input!

Cheers,

Chris