[Mg-t] Noisy Start

[mgbob at juno.com]

Hi Stu,  Another puzzle to work on, just in time for Christmas.  Our MGs are
different from other cars---slip the gearbox into neutral and take your foot
off the clutch for starting. There is less friction that way, and the engine
will turn faster.  Letting the clutch up with engine in gear to prevent
running on is OK, and it is not related to occasional starter noise.  That
occasional sound is not normal, and it needs to be sorted soon.  A test to see
that it's not something other than starter would be to remove the sparkplugs
and to turn the engine with starting handle, or better, have someone else turn
it while you are in driver's seat.   Ring gears wear normally in only two
areas in our four-cylinder engines, as the engines come to rest with one
piston on its compression stroke.  It could be that there is wear now on the
ring gear that was not apparent last time you had a look at it.  It's possible
that the "bendix" gear of the starter is not moving into complete engagement
with the ring gear. That could be because of the bendix not being run full
distance on the shaft because of dirt or rust or a mechanical cause. A little
cleaning will fix that, then oil the shaft threads with a little very light
oil.  It might also be caused if the starter motor itself is weak and is not
beginning to spin fast enough to drive the bendix into complete engagement
before it begins to turn the ring gear.   If it does not engage at all, you
will hear fast whirring of the starter motor accompanied by an ugly sound of
gear clash.  In short order you will see evident wear on the bendix teeth and,
if you are sufficiently agile, on the ring gear as someone turns the engine
with the starting handle wile you peer     into the starter mounting hole.
You have checked to make certain that the starter is firmly bolted up to the
engine and that electrical connections are all clean & snug?      Let's get
this solved quickly, as we know you don't want to miss distribution of
presents from your sleigh-red TD  to all the good little children in Venice
this year.Bob

    ---------- Original Message ----------
From: Stuart Keen <simbafish at comcast.net>
To: MG <mg-t at autox.team.net>
Subject: [Mg-t] Noisy Start
Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2010 10:06:52 -0500

About 20% of the time, when starting up my TD from cold any time of the
year, I get the sound of gears roughly meshing. Transmission is placed in
neutral (clutch usually depressed fully just to be sure not engaged). Is
this occasional sound normal for a TD?

I am assuming it is the starter engaging the flywheel. If so, why does it
not engage smoothly 100% of the time? This problem happened with my old
starter and also with the new one installed a year ago. The engine and
transmission have been removed several times in the past years and yet the
sound has remained. Teeth of the flywheel appear to be in good shape and
there is no adjustment for the placement of the starter. I do not think it
is the helical spring not disengaging as the sound is there at the very
beginning. The sound goes away a few seconds after the ignition key is
turned ON and the engine turned over.

It is possible that the sound is NOT the starter, just my own conclusion
because it only happens upon ignition. When I park the TD, to eliminate the
"dieseling" I sometime get in the hot Florida climate, I turn OFF the
ignition and bring the engine to rest as I slowly release the clutch while
in 1st gear. Could this be a problem?

I'm anxious to find out if this noisy meshing of gears is normal, and if
not, if it's a problem to be of concern. I am contemplating joining the
Rallye to Reno next June and want to eliminate any foreseeable problems.

Thanks for your insights and suggestions.

Stu Keen
1951 MG TD Mk II