Locked starter
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 497
Likes: 50
From: Ashcake, VA
Locked starter
Recently my starter (purchased in April) locked up. I tapped it with a hammer and the car starts easily now. My question should I have any maintenance or inspection performed to prevent a reoccurrence?
thanks in advance
thanks in advance
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 7,463
Likes: 2,643
From: Really Central IL Illinois
By "locked up" do you mean it just clicks at the solenoid and won't turn the starter motor nor engage the flywheel or it engages the flywheel but won't turn the engine, or the starter pinion hits the flywheel and spins, but won't turn the engine.
From your description, it sounds like the copper washer in the solenoid is pitted in one location. When you rap the starter, it moves it slightly to make contact in a good portion of the washer
- or -
the brushes in the starter motor are worn and hanging up not making contact to the commutator until you rap the starter.
-or-
A bad connection from the battery, either ground or positive preventing sufficient power to the starter to spin the motor.
From your description, it sounds like the copper washer in the solenoid is pitted in one location. When you rap the starter, it moves it slightly to make contact in a good portion of the washer
- or -
the brushes in the starter motor are worn and hanging up not making contact to the commutator until you rap the starter.
-or-
A bad connection from the battery, either ground or positive preventing sufficient power to the starter to spin the motor.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
. This, without question. Locking up is a sure sign of not enough gear clearance. You'll notice it spins faster and sounds a whole lot less "grindey" with the gear clearance set correctly.
