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Starter gearbox.
Posted: 14 Sep 2024 11:30
by everard3902
Hi chaps. I’m fixing up the starter on my 500. New worm drive, new skf bearings, new oil seals. All lovely now, but it still leaks oil like a sieve. Had anyone tried semi liquid grease? My bearing supplier reckoned this is the answer. If so can anyone recommend a brand/type. Apparently the new ep type oils and greases are much kinder to the brass worm.
Tony.
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 14 Sep 2024 22:06
by 3potjohn
Mine now only leaks via the somewhat badly fitting rubber. filler plug. I have the roller bearing with a separate O ring seal
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 15 Sep 2024 12:29
by everard3902
My way of thinking that if I use a suitable semi liquid grease,‘I reckon k48 by morris oils’, it will provide adequate lube and not leak out. I’m going to give it a go. It’s not like the starter is wizzing round for long. As it is at the moment it’s unusable. The narrower roller bearing and oil seal was considered but I’d just bought a new Bearing and my bearing chap couldn’t see why liquid grease wouldn’t work. The seal around the original bearing is only a grease seal, it was never designed to hold back oil. Rubbish design.
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 15 Sep 2024 13:27
by everard3902
Got that wrong k400 semi fluid grease.
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 15 Sep 2024 16:24
by MickeyMoto
everard3902 wrote: ↑15 Sep 2024 12:29
My way of thinking that if I use a suitable semi liquid grease,‘I reckon k48 by morris oils’, it will provide adequate lube and not leak out. I’m going to give it a go. It’s not like the starter is wizzing round for long. As it is at the moment it’s unusable. The narrower roller bearing and oil seal was considered but I’d just bought a new Bearing and my bearing chap couldn’t see why liquid grease wouldn’t work. The seal around the original bearing is only a grease seal, it was never designed to hold back oil. Rubbish design.
How could you insult the brilliant design that was thought up by Heath Robinson. Although the later design on the Dart etc was a lot better it has other problems. See sprag clutch for details.
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 16 Sep 2024 11:37
by 3potjohn
No no don’t mention sprag clutch. Mine has been perfectly behaved the past fortnight…. because I have been too busy rebuilding a brace of 4 speed BMW gearboxes to get out and about.Such fun.
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 25 Sep 2024 19:59
by everard3902
Rubbish design starter update.
The worm drive has now been half filled with semi-liquid grease, I used penrite steering box grease. Hopefully this is ok. Anyway, so far it seems to be still in the gearbox and not all over the inside of the housing, so I think this is probably an improvement. I’ll keep you posted, it’s early days and could still go wrong.
Tony.
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 29 Sep 2024 19:18
by everard3902
On checking the starter today can can report that grease is leaking out, also that the grease that was still inside looked like very expensive liquid gold, so that confirms to me that my idea is rubbish, just like the design, so I’m going to try the narrower bearing and oil seal method.
Tony.
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 05 Jan 2025 20:27
by Michel3007
Hi there,
I am in a similar situation as you, 3potjohn, as the filler plug is leaking on my starter.
Did you find a solution by any chance?
Also, is there a way to fix slippery starter clutch shoes? I am trying to avoid having to buy new ones.
I attach a picture of the shoes, so you can tell me if they are not serviceable.
Cheers and happy new year everyone!
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 07 Jan 2025 16:44
by 3potjohn
I am told that the plug hole is 7.4 mm but I have not checked mine. I guess there are suitable items on ebay etc.
Lots of decorating at the mo so unlikely to investigate and deadline Wifewise is Feb 10th.
I had some of that spray stuff for slipping car alternator belts which cured my existing issue but managed to get some others. Villiers said they can reline them but it was around £50 so balked. The old ones have been many years. They are the later type.
Hope useful
John
Re: Starter gearbox.
Posted: 08 Jan 2025 20:05
by Michel3007
HI John,
Thank you for the info, I have ordered some new plugs and hope it will save the problem !
Have fun with the deco
