Steve P Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 So my Vitesse has always cranked over slowly,spec is: 2.5 PI engine(on carbs),TR5 cam,compression ratio of 10:1.6-3-1 exhaust,123 tune dizzy,Saloon gearbox It has a high torques starter,i ran a new cable straight from the battery + to the starter and did away with the old solenoid. Got an engine earth from the suspension turret to the block. It still cranks so slowly that the battery goes flat before it fires up,i have one of the booster pack/jump start things and this helps. I put a new battery on it which is the biggest i could fit in the tray 063 or 065,cant remember. Any tips that i can get it to spin over quicker?. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougbgt6 Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 To be absolutely sure run a set of jump leads between battery and starter motor, ( + AND - ) then you'll know your wiring and earth are OK. If it's just as bad suspect the starter motor. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 i would add a starter earth direct from the starter or block to the battery post or the body earth at the battery tray , again all worth a clean up my experience with the geared starts is they fly over with little current so somethings not right one thing you find with dodgy earths is the choke and speedo cables get hot ??? Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyman Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 It does sound like one of battery leads has got a high resistance, as Doug say's jump leads will eliminate them. Also check the timing isnt to far advanced and does it start ok with a push? Tony. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daverclasper Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 8 minutes ago, poppyman said: Also check the timing isnt to far advanced and does it start ok with a push? Hi. Intrigued by that. How does ign timing affect cranking speed. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 if its advanced too far as it tries to fire and the starter gets a push back rather than a follow through if thats an explanation !! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 You could also measure the volts during cranking at battery terminals and at the starter motor terminal for comparison (an analogue voltmeter might be best for this). If its low at battery then it could be a starter load problem or the battery itself. Ive squeezed in an Exide EA755 75Ah 630 cranking amp battery in my Vitesse or you might even get in a EA770, how does that compare with yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted October 20, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 Did some tests with a multi-meter today,battery voltage at the battery and the starter was 12.6v off load,the battery was charged 2 weeks ago.I haven`t used it since then. Voltage at the starter switched live when the key is turned is 12.1v,that`s not on load though. It won`t turn over at all now,i am suspecting the starter is duff and may always have been. Battery is a Yuasa HSB075 60Ah 620A Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 20, 2019 Report Share Posted October 20, 2019 Are you saying that the starter is energised but doesnt turn and the voltage only drops to 12.1v? If so I would say yes you have a high resistance/poor connection in the starter because if the winding was ok and it was mechanically struggling there would be a bigger drop in the voltage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted October 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 15 hours ago, johny said: Are you saying that the starter is energised but doesnt turn and the voltage only drops to 12.1v? If so I would say yes you have a high resistance/poor connection in the starter because if the winding was ok and it was mechanically struggling there would be a bigger drop in the voltage. No, i disconnected the trigger wire from the starter to see what voltage was there when the key is turned to the cranking position,it was 12.1v. On another note i was looking at new motors,Rimmers list different ones for Vitesse and 2.5 Saloons,the club shop doesn`t show any part numbers but both say 9 teeth. My car is a 2.5 engine but with a Vitesse flywheel and engine backplate, so i guess i need a Vitesse one?. Also should it still have the spacer ring fitted?. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 21, 2019 Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 39 minutes ago, Steve P said: Also should it still have the spacer ring fitted?. Steve My GT6 doesn't while using the hi-torq starter, and has worked very well over the years but - here's a thought - are you sure your starter isn't making contact with something it shouldn't? It may be turning slowly as it's trying to overcome some obstruction. Have a look for wear around the bendix gear or for marks on the flywheel itself, and maybe try a spacer to see if that alleviates the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johny Posted October 21, 2019 Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 Steve I dont think that test helps you very much as the ignition circuit is operating the solenoid correctly so the problem must be on the high current side. You need to see what the voltage drops to when cranking and if, as Colin says, theres a mechanical issue you'll get quite low reading..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted October 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 I will try it again tomorrow with the battery freshly charged,it does have the spacer fitted at present. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Posted October 21, 2019 Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 57 minutes ago, Steve P said: I will try it again tomorrow with the battery freshly charged,it does have the spacer fitted at present. Steve When I upgraded from Bendix to Hi Torque I had a spacer plus 2 thin shims . I refitted with the spacer and no shims . This setup worked well for my Vitesse mk2 Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted October 21, 2019 Report Share Posted October 21, 2019 Try without the spacer and give the bolts a clean / sanding down before refitting; it may be an earthing problem. Mine has run for over ten years with no spacer on a GT6 engine and it seems to have suffered no harm with no spacer. The photo shows how it sits at present (or last time I had the engine out!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted October 26, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2019 Looks like the motor is dead,fresh battery and a jump lead and it doesn`t turn over at all now. Damn tunnel out again! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted November 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2019 Fitted a new hi torque motor on Thursday,(club shop best price),without the spacer as suggested,it whizzed over at full speed,something its never done,but when it fired up there was a hideous noise as if the motor was still spinning with it,killed it and removed the motor again and fitted the spacer.Hey presto its spins over as it should and starts much sooner. I think the other motor was always faulty as it always cranked slowly. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 1, 2019 Report Share Posted November 1, 2019 Yes fitting a hi torque you need the spacers just same as whats removed or the pinion stand off stays partly in mesh Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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