Help starter won't start

rmeismer1@aol.com
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2002 4:52 pm

Help starter won't start

Post by rmeismer1@aol.com » Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:31 am

Been having a problem with starter. I put in a new battery, checked cables, rocked it in gear. Can anyone tell me about the starter switch? Can it be removed while on the car? Thanks in advance for the help. Rolland Meismer Burlington,Iowa U.S.A. 1947 TC #3409--1951 TD #5522 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

John Patterson
Posts: 11
Joined: Mon Apr 24, 2000 4:24 pm

Re: Help starter won't start

Post by John Patterson » Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:07 am

Hi Gang- Just had the same problem Rolland, my switch works intermittently and the cable had stretched and would not pull the lever far enough towards the starter to engage the switch. The starter was fine once the switch would work. I had to open the hood and work the switch back and forth to start the car. A new switch is $49.95 from Little British Car Company in Detroit where I get my parts. He ( Jeff Zorn ) gets them from Moss or Abington. I'm going to buy a new one. I also spray WD-40 into the switch with the red tube and that helps short term. John Patterson TC 7025 -----Original Message----- From: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of rmeismer1@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 11:30 AM To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: [mg-tabc] Help starter won't start Been having a problem with starter. I put in a new battery, checked cables, rocked it in gear. Can anyone tell me about the starter switch? Can it be removed while on the car? Thanks in advance for the help. Rolland Meismer Burlington,Iowa U.S.A. 1947 TC #3409--1951 TD #5522 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links

Peter Roberts
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:31 pm

Re: Help starter won't start

Post by Peter Roberts » Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:32 am

John, Rolland, The problem with the starter switch is smoke. When you pull on the cable you make the contacts in the switch come together. When they come together, they make a little smoke every time they make contact with each other. Sort of like some domestic relations. After a lot of contacts, the contacts give up so much smoke they get tired of each other. Also, like some domestic relations I can think of. The solution is not a new switch. Depending on how tired the contacts have become, you can either refinish or replace them. In either case, you are faced with removing the Starter.....a pain because you have to drop the exhaust pipe for clearance. When you remove the switch from the Starter you will discover that their relationship is a three-way...and you thought British cars were stogy! Inside the Starter body you will find two sort of half moon copper contacts. On the end of the switch, you will see a copper disk. Pull the switch lever and the disk makes contact with the half-moons providing a bridge to the Starter motor. You can try refacing the contacts if they are not too far gone. Otherwise, get a repair kit. (Lucas Part # 255 912). Refacing preserves an old relationship...but, as in many failed relationships, the prognosis is marginal. A repair kit provides you with the prospect of an entirely new relationship and all that entails. In the meantime, note that the lever rotates from side to side. Sometimes you can get a little performance from old contacts by slightly rotating the lever....this also works in domestic relationships I am told. _Peter
----- Original Message ----- From: "John Patterson" jwp_mgtc@chartermi.net> To: rmeismer1@aol.com>; mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 12:07 PM Subject: RE: [mg-tabc] Help starter won't start > Hi Gang- > Just had the same problem Rolland, my switch works intermittently and the > cable had stretched and would not pull the lever far enough towards the > starter to engage the switch. The starter was fine once the switch would > work. I had to open the hood and work the switch back and forth to start > the > car. A new switch is $49.95 from Little British Car Company in Detroit > where > I get my parts. He ( Jeff Zorn ) gets them from Moss or Abington. > I'm going to buy a new one. I also spray WD-40 into the switch with the > red > tube and that helps short term. > John Patterson TC 7025 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf > Of rmeismer1@aol.com > Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 11:30 AM > To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [mg-tabc] Help starter won't start > > > Been having a problem with starter. I put in a new battery, checked > cables, > rocked it in gear. Can anyone tell me about the starter switch? Can it be > removed while on the car? Thanks in advance for the help. > > > Rolland Meismer > Burlington,Iowa U.S.A. > 1947 TC #3409--1951 TD #5522 > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

D&J Edgar
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2004 1:46 pm

Re: Help starter won't start

Post by D&J Edgar » Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:17 am

Thirty years ago, I had a starter with worn contacts. Being somewhat poor at the time I filed the outer contacts down about half way in thickness. I took some old copper pipe, cut and flattened it into a sheet. I then cut out two pieces and soldered them on the filed down contacts. They worked flawlessly for many, many years. Probably still do but I had bought a second engine that came with a starter about 5 years ago so the repaired one now sits on a shelf as a spare. Guess that is what makes the old TC so charming. They are so accessable and easy to work on compared to newer cars. That is probably good though since they require a lot more attention. David Edgar, TC 5108 El Cajon, California
> You can try refacing the contacts if they are not too far gone. Otherwise, > get a repair kit. (Lucas Part # 255 912). Refacing preserves an old > relationship...but, as in many failed relationships, the prognosis is > marginal. A repair kit provides you with the prospect of an entirely new > relationship and all that entails. In the meantime, note that the lever > rotates from side to side. Sometimes you can get a little performance from > old contacts by slightly rotating the lever....this also works in domestic > relationships I am told.

fnitz
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2003 9:40 am

Re: Help starter won't start

Post by fnitz » Tue Jun 07, 2005 11:32 am

Solder, being a fairly high resistance connection, is not the best way to make a connection in a high current application. That is why it is not legal in the US to use it in house wiring. You are lucky if it worked and the copper pieces may actually have "welded" themselves together. Fred TC1353 Scotts Valley, CA -----Original Message----- From: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of D&J Edgar Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 10:58 AM To: TABC Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Help starter won't start Thirty years ago, I had a starter with worn contacts. Being somewhat poor at the time I filed the outer contacts down about half way in thickness. I took some old copper pipe, cut and flattened it into a sheet. I then cut out two pieces and soldered them on the filed down contacts. They worked flawlessly for many, many years. Probably still do but I had bought a second engine that came with a starter about 5 years ago so the repaired one now sits on a shelf as a spare. Guess that is what makes the old TC so charming. They are so accessable and easy to work on compared to newer cars. That is probably good though since they require a lot more attention. David Edgar, TC 5108 El Cajon, California
> You can try refacing the contacts if they are not too far gone.
Otherwise,
> get a repair kit. (Lucas Part # 255 912). Refacing preserves an old > relationship...but, as in many failed relationships, the prognosis is > marginal. A repair kit provides you with the prospect of an entirely new > relationship and all that entails. In the meantime, note that the lever > rotates from side to side. Sometimes you can get a little performance
from
> old contacts by slightly rotating the lever....this also works in domestic > relationships I am told.
Yahoo! Groups Links

Joe Gates
Posts: 52
Joined: Tue Oct 23, 2001 12:52 pm

Re: Help starter won't start

Post by Joe Gates » Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:59 pm

_Peter wrote "When they come together, they make a little smoke every time they make contact with each other. Sort of like some domestic relations.... After a lot of contacts, the contacts give up so much smoke they get tired of each other. Also, like some domestic relations I can think of.... [Y]ou will discover that their relationship is a three-way.... Sometimes you can get a little performance from old contacts by slightly rotating the lever....this also works in domestic relationships I am told." Joe asks In saying that the "relationship is a three-way...", are you implying that a "menage a trois" is a solution for the starter problem or for the "domestic relationships" thing?

Peter Roberts
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:31 pm

Re: Help starter won't start

Post by Peter Roberts » Tue Jun 07, 2005 2:32 pm

Joe, Methinks in this situation a rouleau a trois would be more appropriate...in both cases. _Peter
----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Gates" janus@iafrica.com> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 4:59 PM Subject: Re: [mg-tabc] Help starter won't start > _Peter wrote > > "When they come together, they make a little smoke every time they make > contact with each other. Sort of like some domestic relations.... After a > lot of contacts, the contacts give up so much smoke they get tired of each > other. Also, like some domestic relations I can think of.... [Y]ou will > discover that their relationship is a three-way.... Sometimes you can get > a > little performance from old contacts by slightly rotating the > lever....this > also works in domestic relationships I am told." > > Joe asks > > In saying that the "relationship is a three-way...", are you implying that > a > "menage a trois" is a solution for the starter problem or for the > "domestic > relationships" thing? > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > >

rmeismer1@aol.com
Posts: 38
Joined: Sat Jan 12, 2002 4:52 pm

help starter won't start

Post by rmeismer1@aol.com » Tue Jun 07, 2005 3:36 pm

Thanks for all of the help on my starter problem, I now have it off of the car and a part. The copper contacts do show a lot of wear .The commutater has a lot of wear at the spot that the brushes ride on. I am not sure if I will need a new starter or but does anyone have a starter in good working order that is for sale Rolland Meismer Burlington,Iowa U.S.A. 1947 TC #3409--1951 TD #5522 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dean Jensen
Posts: 122
Joined: Wed Dec 01, 1999 2:36 pm

Re: help starter won't start

Post by Dean Jensen » Tue Jun 07, 2005 6:27 pm

Hi Rolland Take it to a place that fixes starters, if no one in Burlington, there is one in Davenport, I hate to say Galesburg, as they kept mine for more than five years. Cheers Dean -----Original Message----- From: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com [mailto:mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of rmeismer1@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 5:36 PM To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com Subject: [mg-tabc] help starter won't start Thanks for all of the help on my starter problem, I now have it off of the car and a part. The copper contacts do show a lot of wear .The commutater has a lot of wear at the spot that the brushes ride on. I am not sure if I will need a new starter or but does anyone have a starter in good working order that is for sale Rolland Meismer Burlington,Iowa U.S.A. 1947 TC #3409--1951 TD #5522 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Links

Peter Roberts
Posts: 58
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:31 pm

Re: help starter won't start

Post by Peter Roberts » Tue Jun 07, 2005 7:47 pm

Rolland, Find a good generator repair shop and let them refurbish. _Peter
----- Original Message ----- From: rmeismer1@aol.com> To: mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 6:36 PM Subject: [mg-tabc] help starter won't start > Thanks for all of the help on my starter problem, I now have it off of the > car and a part. The copper contacts do show a lot of wear .The commutater > has > a lot of wear at the spot that the brushes ride on. I am not sure if I > will > need a new starter or but does anyone have a starter in good working order > that > is for sale > Rolland Meismer > Burlington,Iowa U.S.A. > 1947 TC #3409--1951 TD #5522 > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

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