Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

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KevR
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Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by KevR »

The starters on both TZDs are a bit inclined to stick (turn key repeatedly before finally getting a click and eventually turning). Assuming it's just the solenoids that are on the way out, anyone got a good source, or a reference I can look up?

I've got a couple of spare starters but there's no guarantee they're any better than what's on there, so if I can get solenoids at a reasonable price I'd rather change them for peace of mind.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by Mickey taker »

I just bought a recon starter from these guys, at £16.50 incl p+p didn't seem worth faffing about with the solenoid

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190716858260" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by KevR »

Bargain! But since they haven't got any more, I'm still on the hunt for a solenoid or three!
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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citsncycles
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by citsncycles »

Mine does the same sometimes, but I'm not certain if it's the solenoid or the wiring - if it refuses to go I can get it to work by shorting across between the main and switched feeds on the solenoid
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by Mickey taker »

I'm old school me,I just belt mine with the wheelbrace
1991 BX Meteor 1.6

light travels faster than sound, thats why you look intelligent and then you spoil it all by opening your mouth !!!!!
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by citronut »

try cleaning the solenoid feed terminal ( blade/lucar terminal on solenoid ), if that doesnt work it could be the motor brush's,

do you have an auto sparky localy,
the one i use local to me repairs starter and alternators

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
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electrokid
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by electrokid »

The problem can be caused by oil mixed with dirt inside the solenoid - so you could remove the starter motor and dismantle the solenoid - then clean it thoroughly with IPA or petrol.

The inside of the solenoid housing needs to be perfectly dry and grease / oil free - if you must lubricate it use a small amount of graphite flake.

When reassembling make sure the solenoid housing is as solid as possible (it's part of a magnetic circuit) and thoroughly clean any mating surfaces.

Make sure that any IPA or petrol has fully evaporated (try not to get any in the motor itself) before trying to start the engine - the brushes spark and will ignite any residue.
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by KevR »

Mickey taker wrote:I'm old school me,I just belt mine with the wheelbrace
Me too usually (it's part of the normal starting procedure for the H van...), but for some reason SWMBO doesn't take kindly to having to whack lumps of metal around the engine bay on a dark night...

I will have a go at dismantling and cleaning one of the spares - was planning to anyway, but thought if solenoids were cheap and easily available that might be a better route. I do have a very good auto sparks locally, but like pretty much everything over here, they're painfully expensive... I'll also be working my way through the wiring loom cleaning up connectors etc, but in this case I'm pretty sure it's the solenoid itself that's at fault.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by citronut »

KevR wrote:
Mickey taker wrote:I'm old school me,I just belt mine with the wheelbrace
Me too usually (it's part of the normal starting procedure for the H van...), but for some reason SWMBO doesn't take kindly to having to whack lumps of metal around the engine bay on a dark night...

I will have a go at dismantling and cleaning one of the spares - was planning to anyway, but thought if solenoids were cheap and easily available that might be a better route. I do have a very good auto sparks locally, but like pretty much everything over here, they're painfully expensive... I'll also be working my way through the wiring loom cleaning up connectors etc, but in this case I'm pretty sure it's the solenoid itself that's at fault.
if bashing a starter makes it work the fault is 99% certain brush's either sticking or worn out or both,

the longer you leave it and ba*s*h*i*t :lol: :wink: it will cause more internal damage to the starter/commutator

if it really is a solenoid required try

Malcolm Lockwood
M C Lockwood
in
01274 640590

he supplied me with a new OE solenoid for a G starter at a very good price,
he said he has a selection of other solenoids still in stock

he might require the details from your starter ( make and model )

regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special

no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
KevR
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by KevR »

citronut wrote:
if bashing a starter makes it work the fault is 99% certain brush's either sticking or worn out or both,
Hmmn, not sure I'd agree with that. I had a couple of old Renault Trafics that were very prone to this when I got them. In both cases I repaired or replaced the solenoid without touching the rest of the starter and they went on for years with no problems. I'll check the brushes on these ones anyway - daft not to while I'm at it.
Thanks for the contact - I'll give him a bell.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by KevR »

citronut wrote:try cleaning the solenoid feed terminal ( blade/lucar terminal on solenoid ),
Turned out that was indeed the problem on the grey one - I would have sworn blind I'd cleaned it recently, but it was completely caked in gunge and oil. Cleaned up and hasn't hesitated once since. :D
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by mat_fenwick »

Mine has been starting to do this more often now, including once after returning from holiday where several turns of the key had no effect. I rigged up a temporary starter lead from the main positive terminal on the starter, and still no joy; however (perhaps co-incidentally?) when I stretched it to the battery positive it burst into life. First thought was that there was insufficient voltage at the starter end of the cable to operate the solenoid, but the starter spins perfectly quickly. More likely I wasn't getting a good contact when I touched the wire.

I stripped and cleaned the solenoid at the weekend (annoyingly reassembling it all and refitting it to the engine before I realised I'd left out the spring :oops: ), so let's see if that makes an improvement.
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by cauchoiskev »

@KevR

If it turns out that the solenoid is at fault after all, oscaro.com have them for Valeo starters :

http://www.oscaro.com/contacteur-demarr ... 23-1563-gt

They call them "contacteur" not "solenoïde" which had me fooled for a while.
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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by Mickey taker »

mine do's that sometimes even with the new starter motor fitted , go figure
1991 BX Meteor 1.6

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Re: Sticky starter - new solenoid needed?

Post by KevR »

Mickey taker wrote:mine do's that sometimes even with the new starter motor fitted , go figure
Probably a dodgy connection further back in the loom then.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
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