Starter solenoid wanted

Are you sure it's actually died and not just stuck?

Rimmer Bros sell starter solenoids for the SD1 range - price about 35 quid. But they only quote Rover part numbers.

Might be worth contacting them in case they can cross reference - they're usually pretty helpful.

But if they sell them separately I'm surprised there isn't a Jag specialist who does the same.

It's not listed here, but these people might be worth trying..

Well, it's sort of stuck in the "in" position. Normally when the engine starts it will throw it out. This problem arose when turning over the engine post-rebuild with ignition off to get some oil around. Might well be OK during normal useage but I just don't like minor problems which could get much worse later.

Geoff

And it will, making sure it fails when it'll be raining and at night as well.

If the Jag one is anything like the Triumph one, there will be a spring between the solenoid body and the fork end that the solenoid moves. it is supposed to disengage the starter. From what you say, you haven't tried to start the engine, you have just used the starter motor to turn it over.

Now supposing that the engine stopped on a compression stroke. There could be enough friction between the starter motor and flywheel teeth to resist the force of the spring. After all, the spring can't be too strong or the solenoid wouldn't be able to pull against it.

Before rushing off to buy bits or dismantle things, try putting a spanner on the crankshaft nut and turning the engine in the direction it normally runs and see if the solenoid disengages on its own. If it does, you should be safe enough starting the engine with it as it is.

If not, you are looking at the reasons why the spring doesn't release it

- broken spring, seized joint to fork, solenoid core fouling the tube it runs in from rust, dead insects, grease holding dirt, or misalignment. From what you are describing, you are looking for a mechanical fault, not an electrical one, and most of those should be fixable once you have worked out what is wrong. So you might solve it by taking the solenoid off and inspecting it.

If all else fails, try giving these a ring: Spa Vehicle Electrical Services

They have been very helpful sorting out old Triumph bits for me, and they have an array of old reference books (they are two doors down from a classic car restorers, so know about old cars), so they might come up trumps for you.

Jim

I shudder to think how little work they did on the starter for that. Quick rub down with a j-cloth and some WD-40 ...

Ian

I've only dismantled a couple of these things, but they were both pretty simple. The starter on my Reliant trike (don't laugh, it's a perfectly normal Lucas starter) also jammed in the "in" position. Once the solenoid was off (ten minutes on the Reliant, longer, I realise, on yours) it was dead easy to sort: pull it apart, clean out accumulated gunge in the bore, smear of copper grease, refit and it never gave trouble again.

Ian

No, all mechanical bits checked, it's definitely the "points" in the solenoid which have spread and shorted. It's a well and truly sealed unit with no possibility of getting inside to do what should be a pretty simple task.

Anyway, after much phoning around and calling in favours, a bloke called Ron in Newcastle has found a new one, still in original box, lurking under his workbench. Should be in the post today.

Geoff

I've only dismantled a couple of these things, but they were both pretty simple. The starter on my Reliant trike (don't laugh, it's a perfectly normal Lucas starter) also jammed in the "in" position. Once the solenoid was off (ten minutes on the Reliant, longer, I realise, on yours) it was dead easy to sort: pull it apart, clean out accumulated gunge in the bore, smear of copper grease, refit and it never gave trouble again.

Ian

Sadly we did all that while the engine was out. Wouldn't the Reliant have been inertia rather than pre-engaged?

Geoff

Fixed it for a start.

--=20 Conor

I only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't=20 looking good either. - Scott Adams

I've a sneaky suspicion that, assuming it's the same unit, the starter on a

I'd guess so too. Rimmer seem to have all the solenoids used on SD1s - so I'm surprised similar Jag specialists can't help. Incidentally, the SDI A/C alternator is the same as the XJ6 one too.

Badger.

Can't actually remember. Nor is it listed in the W/S manual. I do know that when mine failed it wasn't listed in the Lucas cat. for my car. My local factor identified it. Think it's 75 amp rather than the standard 65 amp because of the condenser cooling fans.

Both. My Rebel is inertia; the Rialto was pre-engaged. Reliant were very good at re-designing things to take advantage of the cheapest thing in the Lucas catalogue...

Which is yours?

Ian

Both. My Rebel is inertia; the Rialto was pre-engaged. Reliant were very good at re-designing things to take advantage of the cheapest thing in the Lucas catalogue...

Which is yours?

Ian

Pre-engaged.

Geoff