stylez Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 Thank you guys both very much for your help, it really is greatly appreciated! I got to drive her quite a bit today. Seems to drive quite nicely, for a marina anyway acceleration isn't terrible, and it cruises along a 100k sweet as. I couldn't believe the amount of understeer. I know they are famous for it but I did a hairpin today at about 45km/h and just about made it.. terrible I know.. but....so...much...fun !!! Looks like it shouldn't be too much work to get it up to a daily driver spec. Hopefully I'll get a starter motor on Wednesday then! Sick of tow starting Thanks again, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raizer Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 ..I was asked by the wreckers if it was a straight starter of if it had a solenoid on it.. I have no idea. Any help on that would be greatly appreciated. I found this photo of a BMC B-series engine which suggests the starter motor (the horizontal black cylinder toward the bottom left) does not have a solenoid on it. http://www.malaysiaminilover.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/minicooper_enginecode2.jpg Thats an A series engine though isnt it? From memory though a mini starter will fit, which means an Escort/other Kent powered Ford one will too, only difference is the Ford ones have 3 bolt mounts where the Morris ones are 2 bolt (just ignore the middle mount hole) Does yours have a rear sway bar? Doubling it can make a big improvement to the understeer! (along with good shocks all round and heavier rear suspension from a panel van) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylez Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 Thanks for the tip! Should be easy as to find a starter then. as for the suspension It's on lowering blocks in the rear and the torsion bars have been wound down a fair bit up front, again I haven't had time to check it out properly so can't say if it has a swaybar or not but when I do I'll take some pics of underneath etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 The pic TDS posted is an A series - if you are going to mix and match starter motors make sure you count the number of teeth on the pinion - some are 9 teeth others are 11 teeth (this is only going from memory when I was working on MGB's everyday 5+ years ago) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 From memory though a mini starter will fit, Unlikely that the mini s/m will fit, it is a inertia pull type and the marina (well at least the one I had) was a conventional throw out type. The Mini has an external solenoid and the marina has a built in solenoid which will also make life difficult. Mini one below. and the marina type (well at least what was fitted to mine) Unless the later model ones a different?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylez Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 Mine looks like the top one, rather than the bottom one... That says it needs a seperate solenoid... so I guess I do need a solenoid. I'm planning to take it off this evening, so I'll post a picture and solve the mystery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raizer Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 the marina (well at least the one I had) was a conventional throw out type. Did yours have a B series engine? or was it OHC? Mine were all B powered and I am 99% all of them had inertia starters but I think a mates old E series powered one had a throw out starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Did yours have a B series engine? or was it OHC?Mine were all B powered and I am 99% all of them had inertia starters but I think a mates old E series powered one had a throw out starter. Mine was a 1977 model of 1.8 pushrod-ness. It did have a rebuilt starter when i got it so maybe it had been fitted with something different. Mine looks like the top one, rather than the bottom one... In that case ignore my previous post, it sounds like the mini one will work for you.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 note - inertia (pull) and helix (push) style starters are not able to be swapped - they have different ring gears.. as in the teeth have guides cut into either the front or the back of the flywheel depending on the starter type... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylez Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 Ok so I finally got the starter motor out, and I stand corrected mrjstar I'm just wondering if the starter motor is actually buggered, or just wasn't wired up correctly, as there's a plug that was not connected to anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjrstar Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Time for a jumper lead style bench test I believe.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylez Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 Gave it a shot Pinion throws itself forwards, but doesn't spin. Guessing it's shot after all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 you have to activate the exciter circuit too.. That loose wire looks like the exciter wire - try putting power to the small spade terminal and see if the solenoid clicks (it will be a good loud clunk noise) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylez Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 I put positive to the right spade, and the center. And the negative to the black wire behind. That achieved the throwing motion. So you're saying I should put positive to both spades, the marked + center, and the negative to the black wire behind ? Because if I put + to the right and - to the left spade and vice versa nothing happens. If I put + to the right spade and the center, and - to the left spade, nothing. Only when I put + to the right spade and center, and - to the black wire behind I get a throw, but no spin. ^ I hope this makes sense, apologies for being an idiot.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Put positive jumper lead to the nut that is loose in your picture, put the megative jumper to the body of the starter (one of the bolt holes that bolt it to the block should be fine) Then put the other end of the jumper leads onto the correct terminals on a charged battery, they get a second wire of reasonable gauge (about 3mm) and attach one end to the battery positive and the other end onto the small spade terminal. The starter should work as they do - ie the solenoid throws out the pinion and the motor starts spinning. It may pay to have the starter in a vice cos it will want to torque over and knock the leads off.. If you have no second wire (of reasonable gauge) then a screwdriver between the positive lead and the small spade will work Be aware there will be a decent flash of sparks when you touch the small spade terminal with power.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyteler Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 ^ I'm glad you added the screwdriver part to that because I was just about to say "Fuck that wire bullshit, just use a screwdriver across the terminals" Now I don't have to but I still have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stylez Posted December 20, 2010 Author Share Posted December 20, 2010 Anyway, I tried what you said and the same result. Pinion throws itself forwards and does like a 1/8th of a turn and locks up. Perhaps it's easier just to buy a new one, provided I can find one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 You could always get your one overhauled - shouldn't cost more than $100 or less for a cashie.. Oh and KY - I'll put a screwdriver across your terminals - where the code for "across" is "thru", "a screwdriver" is "knitting needles" and "terminals" is "nipples" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyteler Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 If it's trying to turn but stops it sounds to me as if it has some gunge in the mechanism. I'd strip, clean, lube and reassemble the bitch. Fucking BANG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoeddynz Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Wicked car! Is this the first Marina on oldschool? Glad your happy with it. I would just find a spare engine and backyard tinker with it - port the head, see if you can locate a cheap uprated cam from somewhere- that sort of stuff. do it while using the car and then when it ready drop it in. No worries about certing, still use car while building other engine. Do it on the cheap and learn as you go along. This is what most on here do- which is fucking cool in my book. I met this guy who's got lots of marinas when on a walk in Lyttleton. Hes a top bloke- very good to know in your situation. He has thsi run down of his cars- quite funny.... http://kilroy.co.nz/cars.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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