Bus fails to start. Starter motor or something else?

Assume nothing lol.
Bell housings are just there to mate gearboxes with engines.
What folk forget is the bush in the bell housing that supports whatever starter motor is fitted.
Mattlad referenced it above I think. It's a 3 quid bush that causes a heap of problems if it's worn. A tricky devil to replace in situ...but battery is a first go to, then earth, then bush then replacement of starter if the battery is ok. Tis a process not to be guessed, but worked through. If all is good there then ign switch, and wiring.

 

Great advice. New bushing went in with the new starter. It appears there wasn’t one in previously…

 

@Little Nellie (if I remember from a few months ago correctly) had starter motor challenges. They need to be matched to whatever bell housing is fitted because the throw of the shaft gear is mms different from early to late casting.
If you've got spinning and no engagement it could be someone previously has thrown a curve ball at you by fitting something you weren't expecting...as I say never assume haha.
On the other hand...
Oh, and there probs was a bush in there but they just wear. Oilite, tin bronze bush, self lubricating in use once it's fed oil before fitting, last well but not forever...

 

Yep, Down the line I found I had a 3 rib gear box fitted and would normally be a 4 rib with my 2 litre type4 engine. So I ordered new 4 rib starter motor to suit engine my 2 litre. This didn’t work so I had to return this and installed a starter motor for a 3 rib box for all to work.

so basically got to match start motor with bell housing.

 

There’s always hand starting it, to eliminate any starter/wiring and ring gear problems, just don’t wrap the strap around your wrist, just leave the ignition on, and couple of pumps on the accelerator to let some fuel into the carburettor.

 

But you're a lunatic who shouldn't be let loose on relatively new members

 

…I was thinking of adding a stronger ‘potential risk of injury’ disclaimer! ​

 

Fixed that for you!

 

So Jay. Now putting the old starter motor in that matches your bell housing with the new bush and refreshed starter motor wiring and earth connection you might just have it. Have I followed this correctly?
Best of luck today.

BTW are you staying at The Headland? If so the quicker you get it sorted the less skint you will be!!

Sent from my SM-G780G using Tapatalk

 

The bad crimp on the big battery lead also affects the alternator charging because the alternator is (usually, originally) connected to the starter motor stud and the current has to flow back through the same big wire to charge the battery.


On mine theres an extra wire for historical reasons that goes from the alternator to the VSR stud then to the battery.
It used to have a solid state charge splitter so an extra wire was used that went to the splitter.
The wire going to the starter was taped off near the alternator.
Seemed to make sense to keep it and reinstate the original wire now the alternator is a 75A variant and I have a VSR so there is less resistance. So theres a "ring main" going round the terminals.

 

Yeah unfortunately that is the issue. I measured the depth of the bell housing when I put the new engine in and it was definitely deeper than it should have been.

Essentially I have the inverse problem that @Little Nellie had where it *should* be for a smaller 3 rib but the bellhousing is off of a larger gearbox.

Fingers crossed the original starter is still ok.

 

This was one of the first things I tried! The construction workers nearby thought I had lost the plot.

 

That about sums it up. It’s the wife’s birthday so she’s chuffed I am being kept occupied!!

We are indeed at the Headland! I could have bought a new bus with the amount a week here costs!

They are filming a BBC 2 documentary about winter in Cornwall here at the moment. There is ample B roll footage of me running around with spanners and straps trying to start the bus with my dog and kids in tow. Should make for entertaining TV at least!

 

Thank you very much. I really appreciate yours and everyone’s help. Previous threads on the forum have helped me immensely, this post may prove fruitful to someone in the future too.

Last go at getting it fixed this morning. Fingers crossed the original starter is up to scratch still.

 

Perhaps a whole series! It conjures a comic image! Every time you turn on the telly these days The Headland is somewhere in the shot. Best of luck today.

 

Come on man! what happened, we're all waiting..

Following on from this, what size cable is the main big red one that goes to the starter, the one with the ring terminal that goes behind the nut. Having read this I checked my cable today, and its a little bit iffy where it comes out of the terminal, so will replace, but what size?

 

Hi gang! We literally just arrived back home. Managed to drive the bus back without any (major) issues! Turns out it was a bit of everything from electrics to solenoids. I’ll do a full write up along with some pics I took to help future readers.

Thanks again to everyone for their input. It was incredibly comforting to have a community to reach out to.

 

I used 25mm cable. It is tinned copper rated to 170amp as that’s what I had on hand at the time. I am sure someone more knowledgeable will be able to give the proper specs!

 

Well if your bus burst into flame then you could always consult the extinguisher thread elsewhere on the forum...