[Healeys] Starters and Generators; was Re: Starting a BJ8

[Austin Healeys List]

Hi Mike,

The biggest improvement anyone can make to a Lucas starter is to
undercut the insulation between the commutator segments. The
instructions state in big black letters not to do this but they are
simply wrong. What engineer in his/her right mind puts an insulator in
the most important conductor of the whole device? Any small loss of
conduction in the commutator is hugely influential on cranking speed.
Every starter I have rebuilt has had this operation done and they all
turn the engine over very enthusiastically without making them sound
like a Toyota van starting up. Ugh, gear reduction starters...

The bushings are sintered bronze, often referred to by the brand name
oilite and do not need periodic lubricating in the starter if they are
properly lubed during assembly. The generator needs a few drops of oil
at least annually on a semi-retired classic car.

Andy.

On 12/20/16, Michael MacLean <rrengineer.mike at att.net> wrote:
> Going to pickup my starter from the re-builder today.  I am going to ask him
> about the bushing and oiling it or not.  When I dropped it off last Thursday
> he checked it out for me first.  He said it was weak.  Maybe he is not used
> to Lucas starters.  It is still going to look weak after he re-builds it.
> It is definitely not a gear reduction kind of speed.Mike MacLean
>
>