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MG TD TF 1500 - Question on Starter

Trolling through the archives, could not find the answer, so thought I'd ask and see if anyone else has had this issue.

Yesterday, trying to start up my '52 TD, the starter succeeds in turning the engine over (though from time to time really struggles - likely too much resistance due to a bad connection somewhere). But before it ignition, the starter will disengage - spinning, but no longer turning the engine.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to why the starter disengages before ignition is achieved?
DWB

my starter did that right after i bought the car. the bushings were shot, the brushes were worn..the starter was in serious need of rebuild. poor electrical connections and/or a weak battery would also do the same. regards, tom
tom peterson

DWB,
Tom is "spot on" with suggestions,,,If you are in need of a new starter, you can use a starter from an MG midget. It looks the same, and is available from your local car parts store, and is a lot less expensive than a TD or TF starter. The only thing that must be modified, is one of the two bolts that hold the starter together,,, they are countersunk round head bolts, and one of the heads must be filed down so the starter fits flush when mounted. Ive been using a Midget starter for many miles with out any problems.

SPW
Steve Wincze

Check the battery also. Put a volt meter on it- it should show 10 volts or so when cranking. A lot less the battery is shot. If that is OK, do the same on both sides of the stater switch- voltage during crank should be the same on both sides- if much lower on the side to the starter, bad switch. George
George Butz

Thanks for the tips. Battery is weak from winter storage (<10 V). But battery is not the problem. I used a portable battery booster, which is capable of sending 400a.

I'm no physicist, so am a bit curious as to why the starter disengages quickly, before ignition. The engine turns over regularly for about 1 or 2 seconds, and then the starter continues to crank, but the engine is no longer turning over. Is this really likely to be an electrical fault?



DWB

You may be experiencing what I just went thru.

Bad gas made it hard to start, and too many attempts overheated starter armature resulting in some windings shorted. Then the starter doesn't have enough torque to keep the bendix engaged so it kicks out as it slows a little under load// etc

Poor connections and a weak battery aggravate the problem

Try it again using some cold weather starter fluid sprayed in the intake, just to see if it will start.

I'll bet on shorts in the armature now.

Fresh gas and StaBil Marine from now on, see archives about Bad Gas!
Don Harmer

This thread was discussed between 17/05/2010 and 18/05/2010

MG TD TF 1500 index

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