[VTR] Starter

[Randall]

I seem to have missed the beginning of this thread, possibly because I am
not on the BMCU list.

Not sure what car this is, but what you are describing sounds like a common
failure on TR2-early TR3A.  There is a drive piece inside the starter with
rubber bonded to two metal sleeves.  Over time, the bond between the rubber
and the metal breaks, leaving the inner sleeve to spin uselessly.  Generally
it still provides some friction, so the failure is hard to spot on the
bench, but won't transmit enough force to turn the engine.

BFE used to sell a modified drive piece that didn't rely on a steel/rubber
bond; but I think I got the last one years ago and Ken said he wasn't going
to have any more made.

Of course, this may or may not apply to the actual starter in question.  But
if you remove the armature (leaving the drive attached to the end) and clamp
the drive gear in a vice, then try to turn the armature forwards with your
hand; you should see the gear forced along the shaft into it's engaged
position and then the armature locks tightly to the gear.  If it still
turns, or the shaft doesn't move through the gear, the drive is broken.

Randall