Clutch Dust in a starter motor ???

[Nicky2628]

Can someone please advise, a friend of mine was driving family members to an airport and on his journey his clutch had gone on him where he was able to get no drive, but there was still some play in the pedal, which i understand means that it hadn't shattered all the extras that works along side a clutch. the day we was supposed to off collected the car we get a call to be told the starter motor is now tight and smoking and this is cause there is dust from the clutch in it. Can someone tell me how true this is ??????

[Vulgar LS2]

Ford transits have this problem, ford don't give a guarantee on a starter or clutch with out swapping both parts.

[wolf1]

Build up of clutch lining dust causes the pinion to slowly seize to the point of being so tight the motor overheats and burns out.

[littleredrooster]

Nicky2628 said:

.....but there was still some play in the pedal, which i understand means that it hadn't shattered all the extras that works along side a clutch.

Good understanding (if you're an accountant)

Nicky2628 said:

...there is dust from the clutch in it. Can someone tell me how true this is ??????

Yes - they live in the same housing (called the bell housing, believe it or not) so dust from the clutch commonly collects on (or in) bits of the starter motor. It's one of the reasons why starter motors should never be greased or oiled.

Even worse is when the clutch starts to grind its rivets away, or a DMF starts to disintegrate - then the metallic particles are attracted to the magnets in the starter and gooses it in double-quick time.

[HairbearTE]

Vulgar LS2 said:

Ford transits have this problem, ford don't give a guarantee on a starter or clutch with out swapping both parts.

Correct. This is the fastest selling starter motor in the industry.

[Fish981]

HairbearTE said:

Vulgar LS2 said:

Ford transits have this problem, ford don't give a guarantee on a starter or clutch with out swapping both parts.

Correct. This is the fastest selling starter motor in the industry.

Although it's actually the DMF failing that causes the dust.

[wolf1]

Fish981 said:

Although it's actually the DMF failing that causes the dust.

Also happens on ones which have had the DMF replaced with a solid flywheel. The dust is always there regardless but the design of the transit starter is more open than most starters hence the common failure.

[NHK244V]

Fish981 said:

Although it's actually the DMF failing that causes the dust.

How true, had 7 starters in 30K on a customers Mk7 till we changed to a solid flywheel, done 45K now without a problem

[jamiebae]

wolf1 said:

Fish981 said:

Although it's actually the DMF failing that causes the dust.

Also happens on ones which have had the DMF replaced with a solid flywheel. The dust is always there regardless but the design of the transit starter is more open than most starters hence the common failure.

Normally only fails after a solid flywheel has been fitted if the bell housing isn't cleaned properly after the job or a cheap budget starter has been fitted though.