[FC] Starter issues

[Charles]

Ok, so it's like this:

Engine off, ignition off, van stationary. Transmission in neutral (also 
depress clutch pedal out of habit), turn ignition on and the starter 
spins but does not engage (can also engage momentarily and then 
disengage). Now turn off the ignition and put transmission into any gear 
and foot off clutch pedal. I don't have to be on a grade, I can actually 
simply lurch my body forward in the seat enough to slightly budge the 
van. This movement would only put a ripple in a cup of water. Now put in 
neutral and depress clutch pedal and turn ignition on to fire the 
starter and voila - proper engagement. Not 1005 effective but enough to 
surmise that it is most definitely changing something.

I'm convinced it is the starter itself but I don't know to what extent. 
The main question for me is the peculiarity of why the weight shifting 
would make any difference. As I mentioned, I am somewhat mechanically 
challenged and not entirely clear on all of the operational parameters 
of a starter unit. I think I know what's going on but takes way too many 
words to explain. Briefly, the starter's drive gear (the one which 
drives the ring gear on the pressure plate) is not being thrown into 
drive position with enough force. For what reason I don't yet know but 
this would fit with most of the possible theories which have been suggested.

I'd like to thank everyone for helping out with this as it has been a 
puzzler for me. It's too cold here right now to remove the starter for 
diagnosis but I'll post the results as soon as they are revealed.

- Charles



Merv Krull wrote:

> Just to clarify a bit more about bumping the clutch... are you letting 
> the van roll downhill a bit, engine off, and engaging the clutch 
> briefly, effectively giving the whole van a good shake, then  you find 
> the starter engages properly?
> I wonder if the sudden deceleration of the van results in a loose part 
> moving in the bendix? (ie: slide all the way back into 'off' position???)
> another 2 cents
> Merv Krull
> Salmon ARm, BC
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bryan Blackwell" <bryan at skiblack.com>
> To: "The Corvanatics list" <corvanatics at corvair.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 12:04 PM
> Subject: Re: [FC] Starter issues
>
>
>> Could well be that you have a bad ground to the engine.  When you hit 
>> the clutch, it completes the circuit via the clutch cable through the 
>> body ground.  Might be worth checking both ends of the negative 
>> battery cable.
>>
>> --Bryan
>>
>> On Feb 13, 2006, at 12:04 AM, Charles wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks Shaun, I'll check into that and might as well take the 
>>> starter back to where it was rebuit for testing and/or replacement.
>>>
>>> But I still can't figure out why "bumping the clutch" would change 
>>> anything. I was hoping someone could explain it for me or at least 
>>> I'd hear a few theories on the matter... I guess nobody really knows.
>>>
>>> -  Charles
>>
>>
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