[Mg-t] TD Starter problem

[Jonathan Hermance]

Stu,

How about a greasy ground between the new starter motor and the bell housing or through the grounding cable on the opposite side of the bell housing to the frame? Sometimes you get good engagement and cranking power, other times a whir instead of engagement, or engagement with a clunk and insufficient power to crank the engine.

Jon TCTDTF SLC UT

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawrie" <lawrie at britcars.com>
To: mg-t at autox.team.net
Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2012 11:07:55 AM
Subject: Re: [Mg-t] TD Starter problem

Stu,

It sounds to me as though your flywheel does have some damaged teeth on 
the ring gear - there's no adjustment for the starter and if the switch 
and the starter are working properly, there's not much else to go wrong.

One proof for this would be, when the starter is refusing to engage 
properly, put the car in gear and move the car enough to turn the engine 
about a quarter turn, then try the starter again (after taking it out of 
gear, of course!). If it works this time, you know it's the ring gear 
that's at fault. If it doesn't work, then I'm baffled, too!

Lawrie

On 3/3/2012 6:59 AM, Stuart Keen wrote:
> I have always had an annoying starter problem with my TD (purchased 12 years
> ago), but now it is getting worse. Now, up to fifty percent of the time, the
> starter pinion gear does not properly engage the flywheel and in the
> attempt, I hear either a loud "clunking" or a whirling of the starter motor.
> At first I thought there might be an electrical problem, that the starter
> motor was not throwing outward the pinion gear far enough, that there was
> insufficient current (or dirt on the Bendix). So, battery was replaced
> yesterday (found one bad cell), cables were replaced, starter switch was
> replaced last week. Problem still existed. A new starter was also installed.
> No change. Nothing else in the electrical circuit to consider.
>
> This morning, while starting the TD by manually pushing in the plunger of
> the starter switch, I came to the conclusion it is a mechanical problem, not
> electrical, but I don't know how to fix. When the engine starts OK, the
> pinion gear engages the flywheel without a sound. When there is a problem,
> you can definitely hear a mismatch of gears; i.e. the clunking noise.
>
> So where is the adjustment for starter position? In addition to a new
> starter, the XPAG engine was recently professionally rebuilt by Glenn9s MG
> Repair in Tampa. The flywheel was inspected and there was no noticeable wear
> nor were there any teeth missing.
>
> The starter is physically mounted with two bolts. I see no means of any
> adjustment.
>
> I'm curious if anyone else has had this problem and what the fix might be.
> Thanks for your help.
>
> Stu Keen
> 1951 MG TD MKII
> ______________________________________________