Stuck starter

[Anonymous]

Hi Gruffalo here, today I was all prepared to start my car for the first time.Changed the plugs, leads ,points and condensor.Fitted a new fuel pipe poured in 3 gallons of Tescos finest and…Oh Cock!Starter spins without engaging flywheel! Tried ‘itting with a big ‘ammer and lump of wood but to no avail.It looks a right pig to remove so I hope I don’t have to.Any suggestions please? 🙁

[Anonymous]

It is actually very easy to remove if you need too. One bolt that just holds it in and te you just pull it backwards to remove. It is probably just sticky and needs some WD40 in there but could do with a good clean out.

If you have a 12 volt battery maybe disconnect the 6 volt and stick the 12 across it ( or maybe you already have 12 volts, so not an option)

But don’t be afraid at whipping ot out 😆

[Anonymous]

@tripyrenees wrote:

It is actually very easy to remove if you need too. One bolt that just holds it in and te you just pull it backwards to remove.

Well that depends if it’s a BN or a BL, a 6v or a 12v starter

There may be room to get a 6v starter off on a BN (Normale) but on the BL there’s not. You should be able to pull it back enough to get access to spray the WD40 in onto the Bendix though.

To remove a 6v starter on a BL you have to put a jack under the engine, remove the engine mounts and lift the engine to get clearance (we had to do it in the rally field at La Ferte Vidame) – supposedly you can get someone with a large pole to force the engine to one side whilst you manoeuvre the starter out (Peter Simper style) but we couldn’t fine one 😆

I replaced mine with a 12v which is smaller in diameter than a 6v (go figure) so theoretically, if it went again then it will come out without the aforementioned palaver 😮

BTW the symptoms of my failed starter where exactly the same as gruffalo’s but the Bendix was free. The motor simply wouldn’t spin fast enough to throw it out and engage it.

[Anonymous]

I have removed the starter on my Light 15 (BL) quite a few times using the “wedge a block of wood method!” Lots of grazed fingers and swearing….but it comes out easily now! I agree there is little or no room but can be done. Main problem was that the housing was seized in the mount so it would not move. Now well greased.
The starters problem in my case was that the retaining screw holding the spring of the bendix unit had backed off…now “loctited” with no further problems.

[Anonymous]

@traction39 wrote:

I have removed the starter on my Light 15 (BL) quite a few times using the “wedge a block of wood method!” Lots of grazed fingers and swearing….but it comes out easily now! I agree there is little or no room but can be done.

Slough cars are 12v so the starter is smaller than the original 6v on a French car which makes it easier (well that’s the theory 😆 )

Details of the “wedge” method (with Pics) would be useful for future reference

[Anonymous]

I have enough spare room to house a small mechanic in my engine bay so not aware of the difficulties of the Legére 😆 😆

[Anonymous]

@tripyrenees wrote:

I have enough spare room to house a small mechanic in my engine bay so not aware of the difficulties of the Legére 😆 😆

Believe me that extra 6″ makes a big difference 😮

[Author]

Posts