Starter noise

[towerworker]

Dr.Strangelove-

+1 on all the good starter repair advice. Wanted to add my 2 cents worth on the R's top speed. Had my '04 up to 123mph (indicated) this past weekend. I've seen 130 on past runs. Possibly the wheelchair strapped to the back might be the culprit?

Wayne

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hi, Rob, thanks for the education on how the spring works. I just figured over time that the spring may be compressed and contributing to the lack of engagement. But I was 100% wrong on that it appears.

But I don't understand the rest. The solenoid plunger and the spring around it---Is that not the "bendix spring?" Only spring I can see, but it sounds like you are saying the part of the shaft of the starter motor that slides up and down with the gears and clutch is the bendix spring. I did NOT take that apart, but cleaned it and polished it, all visible surfaces. and then "pasted" it with the moly paste. It was smooth after cleaning, but after polishing it slid 100% better. At any rate, so far so good and thanks for chiming in.

John

[Dr. Strangelove]

and to Wayne

Possibly the wheelchair strapped to the back might be the culprit?

I am a doctor therefore I can quote Bones McCoy, so in his immortal words:

Damn it, Jim, take off the hand brake!

John

[Sunbeemer]

Hi Doc,
Let me put this in terms you may be used to hearing...
Based on the correlation with the drop in temperature I'd diagnose your weak starter was exacerbated by a decreased battery output that failed to overcome the inhibiting Bendix return spring tension, which after being stretched, will aggrevate both of the other conditions. As is too often the case, one prescription needs another prescription to negate the first prescriptions unwanted side-effects...
So you might want to check your battery output voltage while cranking

Just havin' a little fun...no disrespect intended.

Your friend,

[Dr. Strangelove]

Hey, Rich...I will do that. Thanks..and I really didn't stretch it much, maybe a couple of mms.

On that cold day I did a fair amount of running about and I didin't get the sense that the battery was pooping out. However, last winter, I thought it might be, but there have been many many miles on her since.

and I actually understood your explanation!

no offense taken at all
and thanks for the tip
John