Hi guys,
Need help again! Recently I had a Pinto which would not start when hot - now I have a pinto that will not turn over with the starter.
When I turn the key it sounds like the starter is engaging but jamming. So got a another starter from scrappy - same problem. On bench starter appears fine - ie pinion flys out and spins. I can turn the engine over with a spannner (it is hard though - how hard should it be?).
Engine is a Pinto modified by Vulcan (2.1 , 165hp ) and has done ~700 miles.

Any thoughts appreciated before I despair! (getting fed up on life on y back with nose 2 inches from starter).

Oh - jump start from another car makes no difference. Also tried extra earth from battery to engine block- nope.
Cheers
M

If the starter works OK out of the engine.

Sounds like youve got a mismatch between starter and flywheel,the same thing happened to me.

Check if the flywheel teeth are close to the rear of the engine or whether they are spaced away from the rear of the engine through the starter motor hole.Then get a starter that matches that type of flywheel from the scrappies.
Cheers,
Bob

Check timing, if your 180 degs out which is possible it will only just turn over.

A phone call to Vulcan.
I remember another builder that had a problem and it was sorted very efficiently. Sounds to me like the barings have got a bit tight. Last weekend i turned my 2.1 over with my hands round the flywheel so you should be able to turn it with a long ring spanner.

Is this the same starter that used to work?

If so, it's obviously not mismatch starter / ring

Have you checked connection battery to starter ? You could connect spare battery directly to starter terminal and starter mount via jump leads to eliminate voltage drop in car wiring to see if the engine will then turn over.

Sounds like an engine swap,which is what I did and used the flywheel that was on the new engine.
Cheers,
Bob

Thanks guys.
OK had a good look at the flywheel.
Looks like my flywheel is farther than the pinnion on the latest starter reaches! I had one older starter that just reached but as the engine is tough to starter is started slipping and trashing the flywheel. Hopefully it will be OK if I can get the corect starter!
The replacement starter from scrappy just could not throw out the pinion far enough.
Now I just need to get a starter that will reach but how the heck I find that as I have no model # etc...!!
Guess I need to trawl some scrappies.
Did actually manage to start it on Sat with the older starter (and went for a blast ;-) ) but darn't keep trying as that starter is slipping and I fear trashing me flywheel!

I look forward to the day I just turn the key and it starts!
Cheers