Starter motor sanity check please!
Discussion
Trying to bench test my M57 starter motor, I'm pretty sure its user error on my part but can't figure out how or what I'm doing wrong.
The solenoid wasn't clicking out on the starter when testing, but spins like a mofo so presumed dead starter. Got a new replacement.
Thats doing exactly the same thing now, so I am very confused.
To further add to the confusion, as i'm putting in the M57 into a defender, I previously had the starter in and when turing starter the engine was cranking over (albeit very slowly) so that solenoid must have been working to a degree?
I've now added additional points and the starter spins much better, but no solenoid click (i.e engine turning over)
Going back to basics: - Bridging between these two points. Expecting to see solenoid pop out and spin, but it just spins w/out popping out.
Even a crappy video!
https://youtu.be/Mc2RoRAwDO8
Help please, I'm not all sure what I doing wrong.
Fairly sure batteries are OK, tried both from main battery and leisure battery and same results.
The solenoid wasn't clicking out on the starter when testing, but spins like a mofo so presumed dead starter. Got a new replacement.
Thats doing exactly the same thing now, so I am very confused.
To further add to the confusion, as i'm putting in the M57 into a defender, I previously had the starter in and when turing starter the engine was cranking over (albeit very slowly) so that solenoid must have been working to a degree?
I've now added additional points and the starter spins much better, but no solenoid click (i.e engine turning over)
Going back to basics: - Bridging between these two points. Expecting to see solenoid pop out and spin, but it just spins w/out popping out.
Even a crappy video!
https://youtu.be/Mc2RoRAwDO8
Help please, I'm not all sure what I doing wrong.
Fairly sure batteries are OK, tried both from main battery and leisure battery and same results.
Not sure why you have what appears to be a negative earth lead to what should be the permanent positive feed on the solenoid.
Correct set up is permanent positive (+) feed to the empty large feed stud and nut on the starter solenoid. Permanent earth negative (-) to the body/ bolted flange of the starter.
To test the starter, put a positive feed to the solenoid activation terminal by bridging from the main feed to the terminal. A couple of seconds should be more than enough to show whether it works or not.
Please be aware that the starter will/should kick hard if it's working so may need a second pair of hands to hold it firmly.
Correct set up is permanent positive (+) feed to the empty large feed stud and nut on the starter solenoid. Permanent earth negative (-) to the body/ bolted flange of the starter.
To test the starter, put a positive feed to the solenoid activation terminal by bridging from the main feed to the terminal. A couple of seconds should be more than enough to show whether it works or not.
Please be aware that the starter will/should kick hard if it's working so may need a second pair of hands to hold it firmly.
The neg earth cable was just to allow for a bit of better access to the terminals.
Im now even more confused, in that when triggering terminal A + B the starter seems to work as intended.
I've got a photo from when I got the engine with a engine loom wire (not starter trigger) connected to terminal B, with the assumption made that terminal D was the starter trigger.
Now thinking do I leave that original loom wire on posisition B and make my starter trigger points B & D?
Im now even more confused, in that when triggering terminal A + B the starter seems to work as intended.
I've got a photo from when I got the engine with a engine loom wire (not starter trigger) connected to terminal B, with the assumption made that terminal D was the starter trigger.
Now thinking do I leave that original loom wire on posisition B and make my starter trigger points B & D?
tommobot said:
Right, now thinking that terminal D should be for grounding...
No, a ground will be provided through the body of the starter itself (when bolted to the engine/gearbox).Terminal A is the permanent live input from the battery
Terminal B is the positive trigger input from the ignition/start switch
Terminal C is the switched live output to the starter
Terminal D will likely remain unused, but as another switched live output can sometimes be used by other systems to know when the engine is being started
tommobot said:
Don't think i'm going nuts here am I?
Err, maybe? 
Edited by tux850 on Thursday 1st February 17:03
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