Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

A mate mentioned that his pinion had been touching the edge of his pressure plate [with no apparent problems]. I checked my two different pressure plates and both had also heavy marks on the edges; I thought that maybe starter pinions had different diameters but no. Anyone else seen this?

Yes.............I had a engine laid up but in good condition for a number of years, when I came to swop engines I did the usual things,seals etc. and fitted a new Bendix to the starter motor. When I tried to start it the engine turned over very slowly, I tried a new battery, earths, connections, starter brushes etc. etc. I then noticed swarf in the bell housing and heavy marks on the Bendix shield / sleeve , it was touching the pressure plate. I had to remove the engine and grind off the edge of the pressure plate, it was a very small amount but it solved the problem.

John.

Mine did that.
When I bought the car in April the seller demonstrated a rattling noise after starting and occasionally when running. More of a tinkle really. It came from the region of the starter. I later removed the starter and could see a witness mark on the sleeve. I ground 10 thou off the sleeve and it cured it, but I didn`t know what it had been touching. Thanks for the explanation.
Eric in Burnley
67 Type 45 S3 SE. Running

Thanks for the info. guys, it had me worried; angle grinder at the ready! cheers, John.

Hi AussieJohn, Be careful with the grinder, I only took a `gnats` of the pressure plate, I used the flywheel as datum, if you go mad with the grinder the engine will be out of balance and feel rough at higher revs..

Regards John.

...connecting possible related odd bits...
"saildrive" posted some notes in the last few months about the hole in the metal plate between the engine and bellhousing having a hole slightly smaller than the starter alignment flange causing the starter to be cocked a bit when installed. His stock orig. plate and orig. starter except he had "corrected" the slightly bent area of the starter hole before reinstalling! If it cocks with the end toward the clutch pressure plate the bendix can rub on it? I had noticed the same thing but unfortunately after the rebuilt starter bendix "failed": due to dragging on the clutch pressure plate, one could see evidence of the scuffing, and the sound of not being fully released. I put in an old starter and for whatever reason it worked ok. The old one didn't seem to be misaligned when installed although flanges looked the same (didn't measure).
What actually failed on the rebuilt starter was the internal return spring, evidently a light spring that keeps it back when not in "start" mode. (not the heavy visible spring)
So that brings me to a question..., can you buy and replace this spring, and how do you take bendix apart?
Jk

To take a Bendix apart you best use a Bendix Spring compressor.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Classic-Car-S ... 0362745859

Thanks for the info. and advice guys, [ I never thought of a misaligned startermotor ] my engine showed no signs of problems when starting. cheers, John

Here's the photo from ebay for posterity.

Jon