New pre-engaged starter motor - won't fit

[BenMcCarthy]

My new pre-engaged starter motor arrived Friday. At the local garage we got it up on the jacks on Saturday but try as we might it would not go in. Its slightly larger than the original Lucas bendix gear starter and although it would fit in the aperture it seemed like the lugs and holes were about half an inch out. It snags on the sump or upside down on the chassis. Has anyone got any ideas or similar experiences???

I understand that pretty much all the aftermarket pre-engaged starters are the same

[rgh0]

What sort of starter and where is it from. There are many pre-engage starters made, most do not fit a twincam engine bell housing in bolt centres, mounting spigot diameter, pinion diameter and tooth pitch and pinion throw. All need to be correct to use a different starter. Orientation of the solenoid to clear engine block and other components also critical.

I know of 3 types you can use and there are probably others.

1. The special super starters sold by the usual suppliers, generally these use a standad japanese starter with a new mounting housing.

2. A early Honda Civic starter with a spacer plate to get the correct pinion throw. Its mounting holt also need to be slightly slotted

3. A Bosch pre-engage starter used with early 70 escorts in Australia. Had a 3 bolt mounting but 2 of the 3 bolts line up with a standard twin cam bellhousing. An equivalent pre-engage starter was probably used on similar European escorts or 1600 Pintos in the USA of the era.

Rohan

[BenMcCarthy]

Thanks - I think it is Type 1. 'A special super starter'. I got it from SJ Sportscars in Crediton, Devon who are in my experience a good supplier and had a good price. It was supposed to be specifically for the Elan +2. Punched into the housing it has the mark '6/80 SW7'

[rgh0]

Ben

If its supposed to be specfically made for a twin cam it should bolt straight in. Sounds like SJ sent you the wrong version by mistake. I would send it back an ask for the right one that fits.

Rohan

[BenMcCarthy]

Rohan

I checked - it is the correct starter motor. Sj say that sometimes you have to file the top of the mounting plate but it seems like more than this. Has anybody here fitted one of the aftermarket pre-engaged starter motors? Did you have to do any sawing/ filing, drilling?

[trarker]

Hi,
Mine, from RD Ent was fitted without problem
Jerome

[cliveyboy]

Ben
One of the Lotus suppliers told me that with the modern type starter motors there are two types for the Twin cam. Its to do with Ford and Lotus using different sumps on their cars.
Clive

[rgh0]

If the lugs / bolts dont line up by half an inch its more than a little filing. I would get one from someone who can offer a bolt on fit. I thought Gustafson Machine actually made a lot of the super starters for the various Lotus suppliers. The owner of the company owns an Elan so he should know what fits.

Web site www.gustafsonmachine.com

Rohan

[BenMcCarthy]

Thanks for replies I'll see what can be done.

SJ say that they get their starter from the same place as everyone else which I presume is gustafsonmachine.

What was that about sumps; are there two types of sump on the twin cam - does anybody know?

[types26/36]

When you say it is out by 1/2 inch are you refering to the distence between the mounting holes or it is sticking out from the engine by 1/2 inch?
I dont know but is there a difference between a 4 speed gearbox starter and a 5 speed gearbox starter?
There are several sumps that will fit but usually it is one of two, the four bolt crank has one type and the 6 bolt crank has another but the difference is mainly on the the rear oil seal/rear bolts and I dont think it would make any difference to the starter.
Both these sumps had the bulge at the front but I think (but are not sure) that the Twin Cam Escort had the bulge at the rear, there are other sumps mainly competion sumps but I doubt you have one of these.
Brian

[rgh0]

Cortina and Escort twin cams had the oil holding section of the sump at the rear rather than the front as in Lotus because of the different suspension setup. I think the Escort sumps also had "wings" on them to increase oil capacity.

I presume this could cause a difference in the space available for the starter. Later Escorts also used a 3 bolt mounting starter bell housing.

Rohan

[rgh0]

Brian

4 and 5 speed starters are identical with identical mounting locations. They just make a lot more noise in the 5 speed because the Aluminium bell housing rings like a bell with the starter vibation.

Rohan

[BenMcCarthy]

Thanks

I've got what I understand as a standard sump - can't remember the crank. It was an old iron crank that got re-ground with the last rebuild.

The mounting holes are "1/2 inch out". I think if the mounting lugs moved clockwise around by 1/2 inch it would fit. As I was saying the old lucas standard starter fits fine.

[rgh0]

Ben

The Gustafson starters have an index feature that allows the bolt mounting hole flange to be rotated versus the stater body. You may have to index it to correctly fit as it may not have been set at the right index location.

Rohan

[types26/36]

Cortina and Escort twin cams had the oil holding section of the sump at the rear rather than the front

Rohan,
Are you sure the Lotus Cortina had the bulge at the rear? the suspension/steering was a different set up to the Escort, I had a GT Cortina many years ago and I seem to remember the bulge at the front although I could have memory fade!
Brian