Starter Motors

[davesideways]

Hey,

Well it's not a Caterham, but it does have a K-Series in it using a caterham bellhousing.

I brought a new "axial" starter from caterham ages ago, but haven't used it yet.

Anyone any experience of these? I notice they don't list them on the website anymore?

Anyways, engine is free to turn over and can be turned over with no plugs in by grabbing the bottom pulley and spinning it around, not binding or tight, obviously gets a little stiffer when the oil pressure is up, it's ready to run.

Slapped the plugs in and my new axial starter barely has the power to turn the engine over.

Are these starters crap?

I have used two batteries, I have "jumped" the starter direct to a fresh battery with 1metre cables...I have added 3 extra earth straps to check that...Run the system as it always been laid out on the previous engine...

I have been through everything I can only pinpoint the starter.

I am used to DENSO Hi-Torque motors which will turn anything at rapid cranking speed.

My cables get hot too, they have never done that with my previous starters.

This Axial thing is useless?

I see Caterham list a Bosch starter, this needs a plate, this Bosch MUST be from another car, ie; you can buy one for £10 on ebay. I am screwed if I want to spend £136 on a shiney load of rubbish. I don't want a magnetron caterham one either?

Any other options?

Anyone got an old starter they lend me?

I am an engineer of sorts, I am baffled. The engine is not overly tight or problematic, it's ready to fire, if only I had a starter that would do more than 60rpm!

Dave

[Murph7355]

James Whiting just cured some starter woes I was having. One starter wasn't binding properly, and the other wouldn't fit properly with my cack handed approach.

He sorted it out very nicely. A coax starter - so it's not the type of starter that's a problem per se.

Am based in SW London and have a spare (non-coaxial) starter you could try.

[fergus]

Murph7355 said:

Am based in SW London and have a spare (non-coaxial) starter you could try.

I'm based in NW london and also have a spare (brand new) non axial starter you could try.

Hot cables sound like there is either an impedance or an earth problem somewhere...

[davesideways]

I am not sure whats up...I should know as cars are my forte!

As said I have jumped the starter directly from a battery and it warms up the connections (nice fat jump cables), thats with the engine direct earthed to battery...

This evening I jumped two batteries together and got a wimper from the engine with the battery in the boot as normal and a single earth lead to chassis from the engine. Oddly with two batteries there is no heat in the leads...

Sadly I had used the "best" of the cranking amps testing the starter directly when I refitted it after giving it a once over, so for now they are charging.

I will try the big battery from my BMW tomorrow in a jump onto the smaller one in the car once fully charged

I appreciate your offers, I'd obviously pay for a courier both ways and organise a courier to collect the starter to save hassle.

If I cannot resolve this issue I'll be intouch.

Appreciated.

I'd like to see how the non-axial works, I have a short 4-1 manifold and a heat shield so baking issues are not much of an problem (click click).

[BertBert]

sounds like it might be a mechanical problem with the starter fit, rather than an electrical problem?

BErt

[Murph7355]

Did you say the wires heat up when the starter isn't even connected to the engine?

[tvralfagtv6]

if it helps I have an axial one from Caterham and out of the box on first install
it skimmed the flywheel teeth. i .e did not engage properly. eventually after speaking to
caterham I had to elongate the three holes to give some adjustment now works a treat. Yours may be unduly binding, worth a thought. Mine spins over perfectly fine mind you I am running an emerald with max 5 degrees starting timing