starter motor

[mikey1044]

i have recently acquired a 1966 2000 estate, RHD manual. i absolutely love her! i am looking to replace the starter, and as i am in the USA, i wish to order it from a local company. i cross referenced with Rimmer Bros. and found the part number to be the same as the TR6 (GXE 4439). however, the starter on the car currently is a one wire starter, and i belive the TR6 has a three wire. i thought the starter part number would coincide with the GT6 (GEU 9405), but it does not.
Help!
Kind Regards,
mikey

[Alan Chatterton]

Thats a Mark I estate with a starter with a separate solenoid (on the inner arch I think!) The TR6 and later 2000 (MKII) have a starter with the solenoid on the top.. hence 3 wires (one big one for the power, one to engage the solenoid and one for the cold start circuit..... gives 12v to the coil on cranking)

I think the 2000 MKI starter is unique.................

Or, you could rewire and convert to a MKII.............(TR6)... but not sure how.

Anyone else help?

[David Withers]

Alan - Going from your description of the two different set-ups, wouldn't the starter with the separate solenoid be a Bendix type, and the one with the solenoid on top be a Pre-Engaged type?

If so, converting from one to the other would surely require a change of flywheel ring gear due to the lead-in chamfer being on different sides, and possibly other differences such as the number of teeth.

Perhaps I've misunderstood - it wouldn't be the first time!

[Alan Chatterton]

Ummmmmmmmmmmm don't know!!

Reached the limit of my knowlegde........... (I don't know alot about MKI's to be honest!!)

I could even be totally and utterly wrong............ it has happened before, and I'm sure it'll happen again!!

I'm sort of hoping someone will come on here with some deeper knowledge and answer this question with some authority!!)

[Brian]

As far as I know the bendix type starter on the MK1 is the same as some other 60s cars. When I needed one a couple of years ago I went to my local motor factor and they had one on the shelf!

Brian

[wild bill]

Brian,I'm with you on this one,it's a common starter as far as I'm led to believe.The only thing for Mikey to double check is the number of teeth on the bendix.Cheers,Bill

[Charles H]

I also think the GT6 and Mk1 inertia starter motors are the same. I have certainly swopped these around on both cars. As far as the ring gear goes, I think they are square cut both sides and are reversable. The chamfer is either on the bendix gear or the throw out gear in the case of the later unit. ie both will fit and work!

[David Withers]

I also think the GT6 and Mk1 inertia starter motors are the same. I have certainly swopped these around on both cars. As far as the ring gear goes, I think they are square cut both sides and are reversable. The chamfer is either on the bendix gear or the throw out gear in the case of the later unit. ie both will fit and work!

Charles, it would be most unusual for the ring gear teeth not to have a chamfer as this was specified by Lucas, i.e. no chamfer = no warranty on the starter motor.

Ring gears normally had a chamfer on one side only (rear for Bendix type, front for PE), though very occasionally they would be chamfered both sides, e.g. for some industrial diesel engines where the equipment builder might fit Bendix or PE according to the final customer's wishes.

I've seen a good number of variations in ring gear chamfering, such as with the chamfer on the opposing side of the teeth (for reverse-rotation marine engines) but I don't think I've ever seen a non-chamfered ring gear - though I must admit not being able to recall what the one on my Triumph engine looks like!

Regarding interchangeability, there are lots of variations in the starter motors on various car engines but it wouldn't surprise me at all if the Mk1 and GT6 are identical, as you said, since both engines would have similar requirements in this department, e.g. presumably the same diameter flywheel and cranking speed.

[Mike Stevens]

I agree with David, I would expect any of the Mk1 engines (2000/GT6/Vitesse) starters to fit. I KNOW that a Mk1 inertia starter does NOT work on a Mk2. When I fitted a TR6 engine in my Mk1 the inertia starter did not engage properly, I assume due to a different tooth pitch. Fitting a Mk2, pre-enaged type solved the problem. However, I don't believe that a TR6 starter will fit as the 2.5 was only ever in Mk2 form - wider head, etc, AND pre-enaged started motor.

Cheers,
Mike.

[Poole_A]

This starter was a commonly used item which should be available from any motor factors in Britain.
My local shop did not even need a part number as it was so commonly used on 60s/early 70s cars.
Cost was £29 (last week).