OK, my petrol Lightweight has battery negative to RH wing, and chassis to starter-motor, and all contacts clean to bright metal.
I suspect the electrical connection wing-to-chassis is dodgy. I haven't seen a specific strap (it's not FFR) but should I be looking for one?
(Oh, and it might be the solenoid, but I'd rather not buy a new one until I'm sure of the earth side of the circuit.)
The wing doesn't sound like the best place for the main earth connection. My SII lightweight had the battery -ve to the leg of the battery tray which was welded to the chassis. Try a jump lead from the battery -ve terminal to the chassis, see if cranking is improved. If so, fit a permanant earth strap from battery to chassis.
Tony.
I'd go along with that. My S3 (not a lightweight) needed new Earth Straps between battery/chassis, chassis/engine and starter/chassis before it suddenly stopped having lots of little niggly electrical faults.
It's not being a good day for getting things done--just off for an urgent hospital visit--but there is a pre-drilled tag on the battery platform that just needs cleaning.
The usual chassis-engine connection seems to be chassis to starter mounting bolt. Since I had the starter off for other reasons, I took the chance to clean up the various surfaces to get better contact between starter, strap, and engine. That helped, but not enough.
I used an old set of jump leads to make up some earthing leads from gearbox and head to battery holder as well as making a new connection on the welded battery holder for the battery, all cleaned and smeared with Vaseline. After that the engine wanted to start if you know what I mean.
I'm not surprised with all that
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