starter?

[John Pickens]

65 327 c2 roadster-when hot, starting is often "sluggish". That is,when the
key is turned there is a
second or two hesitation before the engine cranks, and the cranking seems weak.
So far the engine always starts, but I always wonder if it will. There is no clicking sound.
The starter appears to be a replacement, was on the car when I acquired it.
I should mention that this never seems to happen when the car is cold. Battery
is a relatively new Optima.Thoughts? Thanks.

[Mike M.]

Re: starter?

rebuild the starter and replace the solenoid with a Delco remy variety. mikie

[Mark F.]

Correct starter?

Also make sure that you have the correct starter for your engine. Years ago my '66 350hp was going through starters right and left until I found I was using the wrong one. The high-torque starter, the one you need for anything above a 250 or 300 hp motor, has a different coupling between the starter motor and the solenoid. Installing the correct starter solved my problems.

Mark

[Dave Suesz]

Hmmm...mine is original but...

my starter exhibits the same symptoms when hot. I always figured the starter just dos'nt work very well when hot due to the RH exhaust pipe wrapped around it. I have noticed a lot of vendors sell heat shields for Chevy engine starters. My starter has about 120k miles on it, kinda high, and of course is older than dirt. I guess I'll get the V/A gauge out and test the cranking draw of the starter, and battery output.

[Dick W.]

Re: Hmmm...mine is original but...

And then there is always good ole John Pirkle who can cure what ails yer starter, whether it be #'s, dates, repairs, etc. Can wave his magic wand over starters, generators, regulators, and alternators.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: starter?

Sounds like a classic case of an aging starter suffering from heat soak. Your local auto electric shop can cure this ailment with a rebuild that costs around $70 in this neck of the woods.

[Mike M.]

Re: starter?

heat soak usually the problem. agree with ed. mike

[Jack H.]

Maybe not....

a problem with aging starter needing rebuild! The original on my '71 SB was ready for new brushes and a rebuild, so I bought ye olde, off-the-shelf, starter rebuild kit. I merrily dropped the starter, cleaned 'er up and followed the kit mfgr's directions. Starter was 'dragging' regardless of ambient temperature or under-hood heat soak.

When I finished, BINGO, she roared like a lion and cranked better than I'd ever experienced. Problem solved! Well, 'almost'....

When summer came, I had this (*&^%$ problem. Cold morning, cranked fine and started crisply. Drive 'er and get the engine hot + let the sun come up and warm the landscape; shut 'er down to grab lunch/shop and SLOOOW cranking or maybe NOOOO cranking.

Talked to a 'crack' Corvette mechanic at a well known local shop. He chuckled and said, "Let's try the acid test". Go drive the car and bring 'er back hot. I did. We let 'er sit for 15-minutes or so, and sure enough she bearly turned over. He took a hose and carefully washed the stater case for a minute or two being CAREFUL not to spray the exhaust mani (just might crack the casting). BINGO, she roared to life like a lion.

He asked me if I'd been 'tempted' by the rebuild kit to replace the solenoid return spring. Sure, it was in the instructions to do so! He couldn't stop laughing!!!!!

Showed me an old Chevy Service Bulletin warning about NOT using the special solenoid return spring for Corvette applications and/or discarding the starter heat shield. I'd been a 'good boyo' and DID replace my starter's heat shield....

Bulletin went on to say, the return spring in the solenoid was special for Corvette with its nearby ramshorn exhaust mani having a lower overall spring force. Also said if you accidentally got a passenger car spring in the solenoid and didn't have access to the Corvette spring, PN XYZ, to remove the solenoid, take out the spring and cut 1.2-1.5 winds off one end to lower the absolute return force.

I did this an ALL MY TROUBLES disappeared....that was 50K miles ago and I've done cross country treks with 'Lil Red in pursuit of four Founder's Awards without a starter hiccup since.

[Mike M.]

Re: Maybe not....

Neat informative post, jack. thanks, mike

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Maybe not....

Good info. I'll tuck that away for future reference. However, I'l bet ya a "yaller dope" (southern for orange soda)that he needs a starter rebuild.

[Jack H.]

BET!

He took my off-board inputs (same as posted above) and is going to try 'em out. Hopefully, we'll get a report back. On the 'yaller dope', I'll expect the payoff at our Breckenridge Regional and will be on hand to issue appropriate renumeration should I be wrong, Ed (I presume something like Black Jack D works too)....

[Ed Jennings]

Re: BET!

Yer on! But, you'll have to pour that Black Jack in a "yaller dope"!

[Jack H.]

Aye Aye, Matey! *NM*