[Healeys] FW: Starter resistance

[Bob Spidell]

An anecdote, but maybe it'll help:

When we restored our BN2, we went back to 2x6V batteries.  We had 
intermittent starting problems; connections at the solenoid and 
elsewhere would get pistol hot.  We had fabricated our own battery 
cables--from double-ought stranded welding cable!--but my dad was 
worried our soldered connections were bad.  We often charged the 
batteries to max charge on a charger before testing the starting system.

Then, one day Dad accidentally shorted out the two batteries (he's lucky 
he didn't get an explosion or splashed with acid, or both). He replaced 
the two batteries and, lo and behold,  the big 4-cyl spins over better 
than my BJ8, and the 4 has better compression. The car may sit for a 
couple months but always has charge for a start.  Bottom line: still 
could be the battery.

Side note: the BN2's batteries are Interstate brand--golf cart 
batteries, actually--and so are the 3 batteries I've had in my 2008 
Mustang.  That's right, 3 batteries in 7 years; the first two both went 
almost exactly at 3 years, I expect the third to go in 3 as well.  These 
Interstates are hecho en Mexico; I wanted to buy a Parts+ battery but 
would have had to wait a day to get it and this car is my daily driver.  
I had a Parts+ battery go 7 years in my BJ8; it was still cranking but 
was on the low end of a load test and I was getting ready for a long 
road trip.  And, it's made in the USA.

I thought Interstate was a good brand; I won't buy another if I can help it.

Bob

On 4/16/2015 5:28 PM, John Spaur wrote:
>
> The pinion gear binds on the worm gear when is spins down and engages 
> the flywheel starter gear. I can recreate on the bench. When this 
> first occurred it was because the armature shaft could move too far 
> forward which allowed the pinon gear to move too far down the worm 
> gear. I put a thrust washer between the armature and the end plate 
> (inside the motor) to limit the movement of the armature shaft. There 
> was already a very worn steel thrust washer in that place.
>
>

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