Sticking Mk 1 starter motor

[johnnydog]

I have a 1969 2000 Mk1 manual overdrive. I have had two starter motors sticking, in that the bendix hasn't returned fully, resulting in it catching the ring gear and making a grating noise when the engine is turned by hand.
The current starter motor is a M35 Lucas, and the teeth on the bendix is showing contact with the ring gear over two thirds of the length of each tooth.
There is the aluminium spacer which is about 0.75cm thick on the mating faces, and two shims; one is just less than 1mm thick and the other is thicker at just over 1mm.
Anyone got any experience of the best combination of the thin spacers? The parts book doesn't appear to show them but lists them to fit as required.
I can't understand why two starter motors have done exactly the same, but it is has occurred on both occasions when I have been using the remote starter a lot whilst trying to find electrical issues that have prevented the car from firing.
Want to go the National in it, but need to sort this first!
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.....

[johnnydog]

Further info found in an old blue Haynes manual (with the Mk1 on the front) re the fitment of inertia starters - the spacers should be installed so as to give the the 'out of mesh clearance between the stationary starter pinion and ring gear of 3/32 inch to 5/32 inch'.
Should be fun trying to measure that......

[Polly]

Not as difficult as it sounds. Simply place a straight edge across the joint face on the engine backplate, and measure between this and the back edge of the ring gear. Compare this to the distance between the starter dog an joint face on starter.
It is often assumed that the spacers should always go back as before, but starters are not all the same length, so some may need spacers and some don't.


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[johnnydog]

Thanks for the info. Done the measuring, and the result was a gap of 5/32 inch, which is just within the recommended clearances, but I decided to place a third shim in there to make it more or less 4/32 inch (1/8 inch). Flicked the starter, and seems ok. Time will tell......

[englishbull]

So you ok now John?

[johnnydog]

Just to cure a problem of no spark now, and an MOT so nothing major , but still confident!
No need to inspect your starter motor now Lee, I think mine should be fine now as regards the shim fitment, but thanks again for the offer!!

[johnnydog]

Couple of days on, and all seems well with the starter motor now as fitted, so a week in Derbyshire will now be the test....!