Starter woes contd.

[TonyA]

My original starter was extremely lazy on cold starts..I bought the Wosp replacement from Sue Miller which has a 9 tooth pinion..When I FINALLY removed the original starter (the top bolt access requires a dentist or gynaecologist even with top tips from forum members on the correct length socket extension, following my recent "how do you get at the starter" question. Of course, turns out the starter on the car has a10 tooth pinion ..!!! What do I do now. ? Are 9 and 10 tooth pinion starters interchangeable or are they matched to the flywheel ring teeth meaning sending back to Sue..? Please help..Thx..Tony

[512BB]

' Of course, turns out the starter on the car has a10 tooth pinion ..!!! What do I do now. ? Are 9 and 10 tooth pinion starters interchangeable or are they matched to the flywheel ring teeth meaning sending back to Sue.'

I have no idea about WASP starters, but infinitely reliable original starter motors should have 9 teeth and be matched with a 110 tooth ring gear. At least on S4's and Sprints.

Leslie

[cliveyboy]

I had constant problems with 9T starter motors jamming etc.
I fitted a 10T and its not happened since.
From memory I believe some of the Ford Twincams used a 10T whilst Lotus used 9T
(Can someone confirm this)

[alanr]

My original style Lucas inertia starter on my '71 +2 definitely has a 9 tooth pinion. Counted by me only a few weeks ago.

Alan.

[ericbushby]

Hi Tony.
My understanding is that 9 teeth is correct, although 10 teeth may work OK
Mine is 9 and works well.
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

[gjz30075]

Anxious to hear how the WOSP starter works. If it is also 'lazy', then there's some fault in the
wiring. If it works fine, I wouldn't necessarily attribute it to having a 9T pinion.

[TonyA]

I contacted WOSP today and spoke to Shannon, who is wife and business partner of Mr Wos, the company proprietor, very knowledgeable and helpful she says that their 9 and 10 tooth pinion models will work equally well on our Lotus Elans providing they have the 110 tooth ring as original. Not knowing the history of my car, I spent half a day with 5/8 spanner on the pulley nut with one hand and correcting fluid in the other, and eventually established that my car indeed has 110 teeth: Happy days. Tomorrow, I will try to install the WOSP starter...watch this space...Tony

[alan.barker]

Still got Lucas Starter and no problems.
If after many years they start to jam then fit new Bendix but also new Bush oilite in Starter endplate.
If the Starter turns slow remove Earth Setscrew through Chassis and clean.
Alan

[Hawksfield]

+1 Alan barker
Engine start problems can be avoided with a good serviced unit and are are mostly caused by other related problems

[andyelan]

Hi Everyone

I looked into this some time ago and from what I remember there are two different ring gears used. One has 110 teeth and goes with the 9 tooth starter and the other, which I think has 128 teeth, goes with the 10 tooth. I believe it was only the Plus 2 5 Speed which had the 128-10 set up while all 4 speed cars were 110-9.

Note that the 10 tooth pinion when combined with the larger ring gear actually has the lower ratio contrary to how it first appears based on starter pinion alone.

Hope this helps
Andy

[john.p.clegg]

Ratios FYI

128/9 .... 14.2:1
128/10.... 12.8:1
110/9 .... 12.2:1
110/10.... 11:1


John