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Fw: '77 Midget starter problem

To: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Subject: Fw: '77 Midget starter problem
Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2000 18:39:54 -0000charset="iso-8859-1"
----- Original Message -----
From Charles Christ <cfchrist at earthlink.net>
To: <Ajhsys@aol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 6:39 PM
Subject: Re: '77 Midget starter problem


> allen,  cable ends were all melted?  hmmmm!  is there a posibility of a
> inferior ground from chassis to the engine causing an excessive draw ,
> heating positive cables?
>
> also, old starters and generators alike are never lubricated.  besides
dirty
> comutators and worn brushes the armature bushings get worn and the (what,s
> left of it ) lubricant makes a sort of stiff paste instead of a smooth
> lubricant in cold weather.
>
> also the click-click thing in most cases is indicative of a bad batt. cell
> or a starter solinoid going bad.   bbbuuuttt,  it can also be showing a
dead
> comutator bar in the armature.    if the batt. has had a slow trickle
charge
> for at least 12 hours then specific gravity of each cell can be checked to
> determine if there is a bad cell.  if batt is/was new do not discount the
> posibility of a bad cell.  it happens and this time of year is when it
shows
> up.
>
> remember seasonal changes like we see here in the north east are extremly
> hard on electrical components.  expansion and contraction plays hell with
> the close tolerances of these already(lucas) finicky pieces.  throw the
new
> one on and have the old one pschyco analised on an electrical shop's
couch.
> but do check for suficiant grounds to complete the starting circut.
> remember the a starter motor is the only item on an automobile that
requires
> all  12 volts and all the amps to operate(a full draw from the storage
> unit).  evry thing else we call 12 volt is 12 volt compatitable with a 12
> volt system but draws low amperage and is barely noticable by even a weak
> batt.  for example your lights go on, horn blows, radio plays but it only
> clicks when you ask it to start.
>
> now scamper out to that garahge and have at it untill it is miller
ime!( or
> yeuingling time?  i can not spell it to save my life, let alone spell
> anything else for that much!)  ha-ha!  how silly i even laugh at myself!
>
> chuck.
> yesterday it was around 60 here and now tonight it is going down in the
mid
> teens!   brrrrrrrrrrrr!  back to carpeting my son's room.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Ajhsys@aol.com>
> To: <spridgets@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2000 6:30 PM
> Subject: '77 Midget starter problem
>
>
> > Well, I have been having some starter problems.  The car worked
> > well all summer long.  The few times I drove it, after getting it in
> > usable condition, it started right up.  But... last year, when I first
> > brought it home and it was still winter, it wouldn't start.  Turning the
> > key would click the solenoid but not turn the starter.  Then, every
> > once in a while, it would start.  I replaced all the heavy cables and
> > the solenoid, simply because the ends were all melted, and then I
> > thought it was fixed, but it was also getting warmer out.
> >
> > Now it's cold again, and the same problem with the starter.  My
> > analysis says that maybe the brushes are worn and the cold
> > weather is making the condition worse.  (Yes, I tried rocking the
> > car in gear, but it made no difference.)  So I ordered a rebuilt Lucas
> > starter from an on-line source.
> >
> > I will report again after I receive the order.  If all goes well, this
> could
> > be a decent supplier.  If I have problems, I'll let you know who to
> > avoid.  I just couldn't resist the price of $27.00 for a rebuilt with no
> > core charge.  I can now rebuild my other starter and I'll have a spare.
> >
> > Now if my hands and arms were just a bit thinner...
> >
> > Sorry for the length of this post!  Thanks for listening.
> >
> > Allen Hefner
> > SCCA Philly Region Rally Steward
> > '77 Midget
> > '92 Mitsubishi Expo LRV Sport
> >
>


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