starter motor for 4.4

[GURU]

G'day all,

I'm sick of starter motors dying since I fitted my 4.4...It's a RR one and the solinoids keep stuffing up.

I don't run a spacer but can't see this been the reason, its a prolite starter, is there a better one available as I have been through 3 now, including a brand new one.

any ideas?

[Ralf the RR]

I've got the standard Lucas M45 starter with no spacers, and it works fine.
Only thing I have done is change the brushes.

[Aquarangie]

I just fitted the reduction one that I was running on my 3.5 V8. I was going to use the one on it originally, but the reduction unit was only 12 month ols and seems a waste to have collect dust

I hooked it all up when I had the 4.4 on the ground and it turned over fine. I rememberd this issue on another thread regards to P76 conversions so I checked it out prior to putting the 4.4 into Thomas.

Regards,

Trav

[Loanrangie]

Were the starters off 3.5's ? Maybe you need to get a later 3.9 starter or get a new gear reduction one. I just picked up an almost new bosch starter off a 3.9 disco for $50, it has to be better than a lucarse one. Trav, how did your zf adapter work out ?

[Aquarangie]

Trav, how did your zf adapter work out ?

All fitted up nicely, like I said I forgot to take a pic of the spigot I had made for the other part of the auto flywheel set-up (inc. from 24mm to 27mm to suit the 4.4).

I have yet to get it going, haven't had any time ATM too busy with work

Trav

[GURU]

yes....all been 3.5 ones

This one has taken teeth of the starting spigot....

[peter r]

G day Das ,

Totally up to anyone what they do or use .

The old 3M lucas starters , the old big ones that don`t hit very hard will probably give the best service if spacers aren`t used , they`re pretty much indestructable .

The marrelli , prestolite , bosch and maybe the little lucas all hit very hard and are able to do what your last one has done in a Rover , with a bit of bearing/tooth wear , so i`d suggest in a 4.4 without the spacer , these would be a concern .

I`d suggest you have as good a look at your ring gear as you can because it will probably have suffered some damage also and if you fit another new one even with the spacer the same thing may happen .

If the other starters have failed the same way the fault will be in the ring gear but the cause will have been the inital lack of the spacer .


All the best , peter

[GURU]

whats the spacer all about?? whats it look like and where exactly does it fit??

[peter r]

The hole in the block is a larger dia in the 4.4 as is the nose on the 4.4 starter .

Just a ring , in the block/on the starter nose , fit it/make it however but the pinion has to be able to get full travel so the starter still has to bolt up snug against the block and the spacer has to be secured so it can`t move inwards .

Some will say they aren`t needed coz theirs hasn`t got one .. and some will , work without , but i reckon fitting a spacer is less work than fitting a ring gear and having had to fit a ring gear i know it`s a pretty pointless task because unless you can find something else to fix to justify taking the engine out nothing is really achieved .

[Loanrangie]

When i make my spacer i will secure it to the bolck so it will be easier to swap starters if needed.

[Aquarangie]

I think I might of killed my starter yesterday after I refused to turn it over

Luucky I have the old Lucas one there, it worked fine but thought I might try this one, not good. Still yet to have a looksie but I suspect I F^%$ed it bigtime

Trav

[peter r]

G`day Trav ,

Only a suggestion , have a good look at the teeth on the ring gear .

The old big Lucas starters because they`re so solid will sometimes run over munched Teeth on the ring gear if they are tidied up but it`s only a get home job .

The newer hard hitting starters , when there`s a miss-alignment/flex/tooth etc problem can jam , break teeth off and try to crawl over the ring gear and break the nose off the starter .
Wonderful things when everything`s right though but the old ones in good nick work as well .