This same thing happened on my Bugeye a while back. Gerard may remember because
he diagnosed the problem correctly back then also. The starter would jam into
the ring gear and I had to carry a small wrench with me to back off the bendix
by
turning the square end of the starter shaft. Turns out the starter needed to be
rebuilt. I had replaced the bushings during the restoration, but apparently
this
was insufficient. The shaft was actually slightly bent and the shaft bushings
were shot. A local starter/generator/alternator rebuilder where no-one except
the guy behind the counter spoke English did an excellent job on it and I have
no
problems since.
Mike MacLean-60 Sprite
Gerard wrote:
> Jim,
>
> Good job finding the problem. It will likely happen again at some point,
> mbut then again you might be spared for a while. I think maybe your car has
> an identity crisis and is the likely cause...
>
> ...seriously though, you either have a badly worn ring gear, a damaged
> starter drive gear, or maybe the Bendix just needs some lurication. You
> should remove the starter and see if you can determine the most likely
> cause. The engine usually stops in a couple of the same spots as it hits a
> compression stroke, so the ring gear wild wear most in the palces where the
> stater pinion always bangs against it. It literally get slammed into the
> edge of the ring gear and will either break a couple teeth eventually or
> just wear the egde down, slurring the metal to one side. This could cause
> you to bind up in a particulary bad spot. An inspection with a small mirror
> through the starter hole should give you an idea. Make sure the Bendix
> returns home freely and apply a little grease while you have it out to
> check for burrs and wear on the pinion.
>
> Gerard
>
> At 8:54 AM -0800 3/31/02, James Gruber wrote:
> >Need to know why this happened. Was cruising in Bugsy
> >yesterday and stopped car to go in a store. All
> >systems seem to be working in their own inane LBC way.
> >And ever since I've had the car it has never done
> >this.
> >
> >Got back in car, turned key, nothing. Try again,
> >nothing. Radio come on but starter will not engage.
> >Tried to push start once or twice thinking must be
> >some strange electrical connection malfunction, rear
> >wheels lock up and engine will not turn over, sputter,
> >or do anything at all. Push car to side of parking lot
> >to cogitate and pull out the most absolute tool and
> >accessory that any LBC Car owner needs to carry with
> >them at all times, the cell phone.
> >
> >Got a ride home and loaded trunk up with every
> >possible tool I could think of and hurried back to
> >rescue Bugsy. I determined that solenoid was working
> >ok and juice was getting to the starter. Started
> >checking starter connections and noticed that there
> >was a 5/16" square stud coming out of the end of the
> >starter. Reasoning that since engine would not turn
> >over even with pushing that starter might possibly be
> >jammed against flywheel in some strange LBC fashion.
> >Took my trusty adjustable box wrench tried turning one
> >way and it would not budge. Tried the other way,
> >slowly turned and then would rotate freely by finger
> >fressure so it would just spin around. Touched the key
> >and voila Bugsy roars, well that's a matter of
> >opinion, back to life.
> >
> >So what is this arcane bit of LBC engineering, how do
> >I keep from having it happen again or do I simply make
> >sure I keep the adjustable box wrench in the car at
> >all times as a preventative measure. After all this is
> >a LBC and it's one of the quirks of owning one.
> >
> >Multiple starts and stops later no problems with
> >starter rest of day. I will add that I need to check
> >timing as Bugsy will sometimes diesel when he gets
> >turned off. Possibly that one last shudder after
> >dieseling turned engine backwards slightly thus doing
> >something to cause the starter to jam. Humm??? I know
> >the answer to this question will be quickly explained.
> >Thanks for the help.
> >
> >
> >
> >=====
> >Jim Gruber
> >Bugsy '68 Sprite (future Bugeye in disguise)
> >Dayton, OH
> >Yahoo! Greetings - send holiday greetings for Easter, Passover
/// unsubscribe/change address requests to majordomo@autox.team.net or try
/// http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo
/// Archives at http://www.team.net/archive/spridgets
|