MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Pre-engaged starter motor throw?

Hi,

I bought one of those hight torque, pre engaged starter motors a good while back, now i've i've fitted a 7,5" clutch and was going to mount the starter, when pulling the axel from the starter out it only engages like half of the ring gear, it doesn't feel like that'll suffice. I have yet to hook the starter up to a battery to check if it actually throws farther than i'm able to pull it out by hand. Someone got experience with this?

Thanks
Alex

Alexander Sorby Wigstrom

Yes....

I had that same issue with my fredinsa aluminum fly wheel... I had fhe starter mounting plate machined deeper so the starter would fit deeper

But on yours .... I only see 2 options.

Machine into the back engine plate to move the starter closer to the ring

Or add more gasket between the plate and engine block to push the starter further back ... towards the tranny....mmm is that right,

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Actually... is your photo of the starter ingauged ??? If its not ... then you may need to go the other way as you dont want the starter ingauaged full time, which it appears to be

Sorry for the confusion
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Prop the picture shows when i've pulled the axel out as far as i can get it to engage. If that makes things clearer?
Alexander Sorby Wigstrom

Thanks alex

That helps alot...it looks like you need to find a good 1/4 inch to 3/16 to push that starter forward

Is there enough room to cut a hole around the starter in the back engine plate then add another plate on the back of the hole...like a step and then put the starter in that stepped down hole...that would push the starter forward at least the thickness of the rear engine plate then you would get a good gear mash.

Did that make any scence

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Yeah that makes sense. I was looking to maybe pull the gear of the splines of the starter to shim it out but the looking tab sits infront of the gear so that may not be an option.. could maybe use loctite or something similar but don't know if I like the idea of that though. I'll look at the option of shaving the backplate of a little in the area around the starter.

Why won't things just play nice?
Alexander Sorby Wigstrom

Alexander,

What engine is that as the Bendix starter ring gears I'm used to have a chamfer to help engagement whereas that one doesn't appear to have one so more like one for a pre-engaged starter. Still I would want full engagement as there have been other threads about K series starters IIRC without full engagement and the result was premature wear of the pinion.
David Billington

And the ring gear....

Another thought, maybe a starter repair shop can do a rebuild and add a shaft thats another 3/16 inch longer...

Its always something...i wish I had a cnc machine, or a home shop 3D printer, it would make life so much easier

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Alexander,
If you go to the WOSP website (I don't have a link to hand) you will be able to find a replacement pinion with a longer toothed length and the correct diameter to increase the engagement.
I had to do similar on a Zetec engine. The Hi-torque sarters are mostly based off the same generic starter motor unit, so they should be able to sort you out.
They don't sell direct, but list local stockists in their on-line catalogue
G Waite

This thread was discussed between 17/05/2014 and 18/05/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now